Verdict reached in double murder trial in Evansville
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - The jury has finished deliberating in the murder trial we’ve been covering all week in Evansville.
According to our 14 News crew, 31-year-old Arthur Jones has been found guilty of two counts of murder.
We’re told the jury recommends term of years, not life in prison, for the sentence.
He is facing a minimum sentence of 45 years, maximum sentence of 150 years whenever they officially sentence him.
“A quicker sentence is due to facts and evidence weighing in our favor,” says Vanderburgh Co. Prosecutor Diana Moers. “A short time is favorable for the state, and I think that’s true here. We had hundreds of exhibits that were put in, lots of officer testimony and the officers in this case testified very well.”
As we reported back in December of 2021, the original call to police came through as a child running around in the cold, trying to get some help.
Jones is accused of shooting to death Derek Johnson and Samantha Robbins inside a home on Lodge Avenue in 2021.
Friday, the trial continued shortly before 8:30 a.m.
Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers was there as the verdict came down, a victory for her office.
“It’s just a great job by all the attorneys involved, especially my office and the Evansville Police Department,” said Moers. “So, I want to thank them and the courts for hearing this case. It’s been, like I said, a long week for everybody.”
Jones chose not to testify, and closing arguments got underway.
Court officials say sentencing will take place December 15 at 9 a.m.
Copyright 2023 WFIE. All rights reserved.
