PHOENIX, AZ (August 29, 2011) – It took a jury less than three hours to reach guilty verdicts today in the trial of William Craig Miller (D.O.B 3/24/77), accused of murdering five family members in Mesa in an apparent effort to eliminate witnesses to an earlier act of arson he committed with the help of one of the victims. Miller was accused of the February, 2006 shooting of Tammy Lovell, 32, Steven Duffy, 30, Duffy’s brother Shane, 18, and Tammy Lovell’s two children, aged 10 and 15.

“Today’s verdict finally brings a measure of justice to a shockingly brutal crime that stunned the entire community,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “Now we move forward in pursuit of a just punishment,” he added.

Miller was found guilty on five counts of first degree murder, one count of first degree burglary and four counts of solicitation of first degree murder related to his unsuccessful efforts to hire four different assassins to kill the family members. Miller had previously pled guilty to arson for deliberately setting fire to his Scottsdale home with the help of Steven Duffy in an attempt to collect insurance funds.

Prosecutors will present arguments beginning tomorrow in favor of the death penalty.

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