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A man from Utah was convicted on Thursday of killing six family members in Texas and risking the death penalty.
A Harris County jury found Ronald Haskell, 39, guilty of murdering six members of the Stay family in July 2014: parents Stephen Stay and Katie Stay, and children Bryan, age 13, Emily, age 9 Rebecca, 7, and Zach, 4.
"We are grateful to the attention that jurors have brought to the attention of every piece of evidence over the last few weeks," said Harris County Attorney Kim Ogg in a statement. "There has never been a reasonable doubt that Haskell meticulously planned and executed the Stay family massacre."
Police said Haskell had traveled from California to Spring, in the suburbs of Houston, in an ambush at the home of his ex-wife's sister, her husband, and their five children.
The Stays and four of their children were shot in the head and a fifth child, 15 years old at the time, survived. This teenage girl, Cassidy, was shot in the head by a bullet and was killed dead.
Prosecutors are demanding the death penalty in the case of skilled murder, but jurors will decide whether Haskell should be sentenced to death or life imprisonment.
At trial, the defense claimed that Haskell was insane and had heard voices that had led to the killing of six people, reported NBC affiliate member KPRC in Houston. After reading the verdict on Thursday, he lowered his head.
"I think he's taken it as best as you could expect," said Durham Durham, one of Haskell's defense lawyers, according to the channel. "He was aware that it was a strong possibility."
The sentencing phase begins on Monday. Haskell's defense attorney, Neil Davis III, said his team would work to "save his life.It's our job," according to KPRC.
The sentencing phase is expected to last about two and a half weeks, the station reported.
Cassidy testified at the trial and was surrounded by members of her family. She appeared to have prayed before the verdict of guilt was read Thursday, according to KPRC.
At a memorial for her family in 2014, Cassidy thanked the community for her support and said she was reassured to know that her parents, her two brothers and two sisters are "in a much better place, and that I will be able to see them again someday. " day."
Haskell was disguised as a FedEx delivery man when he visited Stay Stay, apparently seeking out his ex-wife, Katie Stay's sister.
He forcibly broke in and tied up Cassidy, officials said. When the rest of his family returned a few minutes later, Haskell tied them up and asked where his ex-wife was. They said that they did not know and that they were touched in the back of the head.
Cassidy, who was injured, played until Haskell left and was able to identify him to the police. She told the authorities that he planned to go to his grandparents' home and kill them. The police found Haskell and he was arrested after a 20-minute police chase and a three-hour stalemate.
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