McEnroe convicted of killing 6 in Carnation; family of victims react

SEATTLE -- The jury in the murder trial of Joseph McEnroe found him guilty of six counts of first-degree murder Wednesday afternoon after just a day and a half of deliberations. Jurors also found him guilty of the aggravating circumstances.

McEnroe killed six people in Carnation on Christmas Eve 2007.

He and his girlfriend at the time, Michele Anderson, were accused of shooting her parents, brother, sister-in-law, 5-year-old niece and 3-year-old nephew.

The jury will now head into the penalty phase, which will determine whether McEnroe gets life in prison or the death penalty.  This phase will begin Tuesday, and the jury is expected to hear more testimony.

"I know that the rest of his life is going to be miserable, so that's enough for me," said Tony Mantle, murder victim Erica Anderson's father.

Although prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, Gov. Jay Inslee has imposed a moratorium on its use while he’s in office.

McEnroe's trial had been plagued by delays over a possible death penalty and whether he could change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.

It took more than three months to seat the 16-member jury for the death-penalty trial. More than 700 potential jurors filled out extensive questionnaires in September, and 400 were invited back for questioning.

King County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ramsdell said in court that jury selection was a rigorous, grueling process.

Meanwhile, Anderson’s trial has been delayed by questions about her competency. Her trial is now scheduled for January.