After 15 hours of jury deliberation, the verdict was read at 8:30 p.m. in Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Sage’s courtroom.
McKelton showed no emotion as he clenched his jaw and stroked his chin.
The jury will return Oct. 21 for a sentencing hearing to decide whether McKelton will be sentenced to death or receive one of the life sentence options, which include life in prison without the possibility of parole.
During the nine-day double murder trial, Allen’s friends and family crowded the courtroom, but none were present when the verdict was reached.
Allen’s mother, Rebecca Allen, was at her Avondale home in Cincinnati when she said her phone started ringing off the hook with news of the conviction.
“Well, I have no joy in this,” Rebecca Allen said, noting nothing can bring her daughter back. “But I do know a menace to society is off the streets. I hope forever.”
Rebecca Allen said she plans to work as a domestic violence advocate to help other women escape the abuse her daughter suffered.
“Never thought my daughter would be involved with a man like that, but things happen in life,” she said.
The jury found McKelton guilty of the most serious charge he faced, the aggravated murder of Evans in an execution-style shooting in February 2009.
He was also found guilty of two counts of felonious assault, domestic violence, aggravated arson, tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse in Allen’s murder.
He was acquitted of a witness intimidation charge involving Evans’ mother.
“I thank God for justice for Missy,” said Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper.
Many of the state’s witnesses were jail inmates who testified against a man with history of intimidation, Piper said.
“We know what C-Murder stands for now,” Piper said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.
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