Three Marines convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying of couple

Three Marines were convicted today of first-degree murder and other charges in the slayings of a young sergeant and his brideduring a home invasion robbery at the couple’s French Valley residence.

Jurors must now decide whether to recommend a death sentence or life inprison without the possibility of parole for Kevin Darnell Cox, 25, EmrysJustin Justin John, 23, and Tyrone Miller, 25.

A fourth defendant is awaiting trial.

An eight-woman, four-man jury deliberated less than two days beforefinding Cox guilty of the Oct. 15, 2008, slayings of 24-year-old Janek Pietrzakand his 26-year-old wife, Quiana Faye Jenkins-Pietrzak.

A separate eight-man, four-woman jury deliberated one day beforeconvicting John and Miller of the crimes.

Both panels also found true special circumstance allegations of multiplemurders and that the killings occurred in the course of a robbery and aburglary. Miller was additionally convicted of forced sexual penetration with aforeign object, and John’s jury found true a sentence-enhancing allegation ofdischarging a firearm to produce great bodily injury.

Cox’s penalty trial will get underway Monday morning, while Miller’s andJohn’s penalty phase will begin in the afternoon.

Cox, clad in a brown suit and standing next to his attorneys, showedlittle reaction as the verdicts were read, though appeared to be listeningintently. After jurors left the room, his gaze fell to the floor and he proddedhis chin with his forefingers.

John, dressed in a beige suit, and Miller, wearing a blue T-shirt andcasual pants, remained seated as the verdicts were read by Riverside CountySuperior Court Judge Christian Thierbach. Both men stared straight ahead.

The fourth defendant, 25-year-old Kesaun Kedron Sykes, is slated to betried in August.

Deputy District Attorney Daniel DeLimon called the defendants “Marinesby day and criminals by night.” According to DeLimon, the four Marines wantedto get inside the Pietrzaks’ two-story house at 31319 Bermuda Ave. because ofgreed — and much more.

“This was about having the power to see the fear in somebody’s eyes.It’s about taking pleasure in the sexual humiliation of a woman and tormentingher husband by making him watch,” the prosecutor said.

DeLimon quoted one of the defendants describing the 90-minute ransackingof the victims’ property and abuse of the couple as “party time.”

DeLimon said Cox attempted to minimize his participation in theslayings. But the statements he made to friends afterward and the testimony ofMiller revealed that Cox was an active perpetrator, according to the prosecutor.

He said all of the men pummeled Pietrzak, while Cox was delegated withthe responsibility of binding the couple to immobilize and silence them. Coxalso planted false evidence in an attempt to throw off authorities, directinghis associates where to paint epithets such as the “n” word to make it appearas though the crime was racially motivated, according to DeLimon.

Quiana was black, and her husband of 68 days, a native of Poland, waswhite.

Miller testified that he was displeased with Pietrzak because thesergeant had told the lance corporal that his chances of being promoted tocorporal were nil.

Cox told investigators that he rang the doorbell twice shortly after 1a.m., and Pietrzak came downstairs in a T-shirt and boxer shorts, deactivatedhis house alarm and opened the front door. The defendants, armed with shotguns,beat the young sergeant into submission, DeLimon alleged.

According to the prosecutor, Miller and Sykes stripped Quiana and used avibrator they found in the couple’s bathroom to violate her sexually. Johnshot the victims execution-style with a 9mm handgun.

All of the men served in a helicopter maintenance squadron at Camp Pendleton.