After deliberating for more than 12 hours, jurors reached a verdict Saturday afternoon in the Bradenton triple-murder case.
- Mom of Bradenton triple-murder victim speaks out
- Amber Avalos' family says verdict wasn't outcome they hoped for
- RELATED: Jury finds Bradenton triple-murder suspect guilty
Andres Avalos, 36, is found guilty of second-degree murder for the death of Amber Avalos, and first-degree murder for the deaths of Denise Potter and Pastor Tripp Battle.
The mother of Amber Avalos, wife of Andres, waited more than two years to hear a guilty verdict in her daughter’s murder, but in the end, she said it wasn’t the exact outcome she was hoping for.
Avalos remained calm and emotionless as the verdict was read:
“We the jury finds as follows to count one Amber Avalos of the indictment….the defendant is guilty of second degree murder, a lesser included offense.”
That portion of the verdict is what shocked Amber Avalos’ family. While Avalos was found guilty of first degree murder of Potter and Battle, he was convicted of second degree murder in his wife’s death.
“We just feel that, you know, Amber’s life didn’t matter now with second degree. They saw the footage of what he did to her and I think they disregarded her,” Amber’s mother Darlene Lee said.
Although it may be difficult, Amber’s family said they are working to do what they believe Amber would want.
“If that was her, she would have said I forgive you, Andy. Because that was her, that’s the kind of person she is,” Lee said.
The jury will be back in court Monday to decide if Avalos should be given the death penalty or spend the rest of his life in prison.