A California interior designer was found guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday following prosecutors said she killed her stepfather when she found nude photos of herself on his computer.
newspaper quotes”Washington PostWhen the San Diego County jury read its verdict once morest Jade Sasha Janks, Thursday, the 39-year-old Solana Beach resident’s eyes widened and she looked dazed in disbelief when she turned toward her attorney.
Janks, who was released on bail, was taken into custody immediately and faces a sentence of between 25 years and life in prison for the murder of 64-year-old Thomas Merriman.
Deputy Attorney General Jorge del Portillo thanked the jurors for their verdict.
He told reporters, “They have been excellent, patient, kind and attentive throughout this entire trial and we are glad we have done some justice for Tom and his family.”
Merriman was killed on December 31, 2020, shortly following Janks found the images on his computer.
Prosecutors said Janks drugged Merriman and then strangled him to death with a plastic bag.
Janks’ defense insisted that Merriman died due to poor health and chronic drug abuse. Merriman’s official cause of death was listed as an overdose of prescription sleeping medications.
Defense attorney Mark Carlos said he was evaluating all avenues of appeal.
Juries rejected lesser charges such as manslaughter, which would have allowed the judge to consider mitigating circumstances when sentencing.
Janks faces 25 years to life in prison when she appears in court on April 3.
“The reason Jade went to trial is because she believes she is not guilty and that has been her position throughout the entire case,” Carlos told NBC News on Thursday.
