A California interior designer was found guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday after prosecutors said she killed her stepfather when she found nude photos of herself on her computer.
newspaper quotes”Washington PostWhen the San Diego County jury read the verdict against Jade Sasha Janks on Thursday, the 39-year-old Solana Beach resident’s eyes widened and she looked giddy with disbelief as she turned to her attorney.
Janks, who was released on bail, was arrested 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 the whole process and we are delighted to have done justice to Tom and his family.’
Merriman was killed on December 31, 2020, shortly after 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 of poor health and chronic drug abuse. The official cause of Merriman’s death was listed as an overdose of prescribed sleeping pills.
Defense attorney Mark Carlos said he is considering all avenues of appeal.
The juries rejected lesser charges such as manslaughter, which would have allowed the judge to consider extenuating circumstances during sentencing.
Janks faces 25 years to life in prison when he appears in court on April 3.
“The reason Jade is going 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.
