Shawna Forde has been found guilty of of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and related aggravated assault and robbery counts.
In a case that has captured national attention, Forde was accused of planning and leading a home invasion that on May 30, 2009 resulted in the deaths of Arivaca residents Raul Junior Flores and his nine-year-old daughter, Brisenia. Flores' wife, Gina Gonzalez, was shot during the home invasion but survived, and her testimony proved pivotal in the trial.
Forde is a self-described vigilante who was once highly regarded by the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, before she was thrown out for her extreme behavior.
Prosecutors in the capital murder case say Forde then formed a splinter group called Minuteman American Defense. Two years ago, she planned to rob drug traffickers along the border and use the cash and weapons to support her hunt for illegal migrants.
In the spring of 2009, she broke into the Arivaca home of Flores and his family. Police say two men were with her and they murdered Raul Junior and Brisenia Flores and wounded Gina Gonzalez.
Pima County jurors jury deliberated for seven hours before finding Forde guilty. The verdict took nearly ten minutes to read. Forde was convicted of eight counts.
The dark-haired woman's face was expressionless as the jury read the verdict. Gonzalez cried.
The jury will next meet to decide whether the case warrants a death penalty.
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