Jury recommends death for Carson man convicted in murder of elderly couple

Nov. 12, 2009 | Jason Kandel | KPCC

NORWALK – A jury today recommended death for a 34-year-old Carson man convicted of killing an elderly couple in 2004.

Jurors deliberated for two and a half days before returning the penalty phase verdict for Anthony Deondrea Cain. The defendant is due to be formally sentenced on Jan. 15, 2010 in Department W of Norwalk Superior Court, said Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney June Chung.

CA/Local News

Cain was convicted on Oct. 30 of the first-degree murders of Ernestine and Lamar Matthews, both 75. Jurors found true the special circumstances of murder in the commission of a robbery and multiple murders.

Cain also was convicted of two counts of residential robbery and one count of residential burglary. Jurors additionally found true the allegation that the defendant personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon - scissors - as to all but one count.

The victims were found slain in their home on Feb. 11, 2004. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cain, a felon and relative by marriage, days after the murders.

Ernestine Matthews was a former teacher for the Compton Unified School District. Her husband was a retired probation officer.

Comments disabled after 14 days