It didn't take the jury long, just 45 minutes, to find there were aggravating factors in the Creighton Killings making Anthony Garcia eligible for the death penalty.
For almost four weeks the jury heard the testimony and evidence in this case, and they’d seen the horrifying and heartbreaking crime scene photos.
Wednesday, the jury of 6 men and 6 women find him guilty of killing Thomas Hunter and Shirlee Sherman in 2008 and Dr. Roger and Mary Brumback in 2013 as revenge for being fired from the Creighton Pathology Department in 2001.
Friday, Garcia didn't bother to show up as the jury decides that the aggravators are there. The factors were that Garcia killed after murdering someone else, the crimes were especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel, and the murders were committed to hide his identity. He will be eligible for the death penalty.
"We believed in our evidence and obviously the jury believed the same I mean they found 10 aggravators existed in this case and that's almost all that we alleged so very satisfied,” Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine explained.
Shirlee Sherman's family was present as well as Dr. Chhanda and Dr. Againdra Bewtra. Garcia tried to break into their home, but when the alarm went off he fled and later murdered the Brumbacks.
"Just very relieved, very relieved,” Chhanda described.
“That it is over and we feel sorry for the families especially the Brumback,” Againdra added.
“Very relieved I think justice was served," Chhanda concluded.
The Bewtras wanted to thank Don Kleine and the Omaha Police Department for all their hard work on the case.
A sergeant from the Douglas County Jail told Judge Gary Randall he asked Garcia if he wanted to go to Friday’s hearing.
He responded ‘why would I do that?’” Sgt. Michael McClellan said.
Bob Motta Sr. then told the judge that Garcia hasn't spoken to his attorneys or his family in months.
A 3-judge panel will now meet to decide if Garcia will, in fact, get the death penalty. It’s unclear when that hearing will take place.
