PITTSBURGH -- A Pittsburgh-area man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, whose body was found inside a burning van in Tennessee.

The Allegheny County jury convicted Henry Ricky Lanz, 42, of Scott Township, in Paula Lanz's death on Tuesday.

The jury began deliberating at about noon on Tuesday and came to a verdict at about 5 p.m.

During deliberations, the jury asked the judge what the difference between first- and third-degree murder was .

Paula Lanz's body was found in February 2007 in her van, which had been set on fire in a parking lot near Nashville.

Police said Paula Lanz left her Rockhill Road home on Jan. 29, 2007, and hadn't been seen until authorities discovered her body.

Karl Laughlin testified he saw his friend, Henry Lanz, shoot his 39-year-old wife. Laughlin said he drove the body to Tennessee and set the van on fire when he thought police were on following him.

Authorities said marital troubles and a custody dispute over their two young daughters led to the killing.

Laughlin is charged with conspiracy and burning the body.