It took an Orange County jury just over four hours Wednesday night to find Hector Rodriguez guilty of murdering Nicholas Presha and Jeremy Stewart, whose burning bodies were found on Cady Way Trail in Orlando, in April 2012.
Rodriguez, 32, was sentenced immediately to two consecutive life terms, in addition to forty years.
Rodriguez’ co-defendant, Jesse Davis, 31, who refused to testify for the defense, pleaded guilty late last year and is already serving two life sentences.
The bodies of 16-year-old Nicholas Presha and 18-year-old Jeremy Stewart, two Winter Park High School teens, were found naked and bound and the two shot execution style, before being set on fire. The teens’ murders came as a result of their attempts to sell two stolen hand guns to Davis and Rodriguez.
According to news reports, after the verdict was read, Presha’s father gave a thumbs up as he walked out of the courtroom.
Rodriguez’ defense said they plan to appeal the verdict.
