A North Texas man has been convicted of capital murder in the deaths of his pregnant wife, daughter and father-in-law.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the penalty phase of John Hummel's trial began after the Tarrant County jury returned its verdict in Fort Worth Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the 35-year-old Kennedale man.
Prosecutors say Hummel fatally stabbed his 34-year-old wife Joy on Dec. 17, 2009, and fatally bludgeoned 5-year-old daughter Jodi and his 57-year-old father-in-law Eddie Bedford with a baseball bat before torching their suburban Fort Worth home. Prosecutors say he killed his family so he could woo a woman he had met at a convenience store.
John Hummel was arrested Dec. 31, 2009, while trying to re-enter the United States from Mexico.
