POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- The second of two men accused of killing a family of five in the Hudson Valley last year was found guilty of 41 charges Saturday.
Charles Gilleo Jr., 33, was accused of killing Manuel "Tony" Morey, Tina Morey and the couple's three sons on Jan. 19, 2007. Prosecutors said he and 30-year-old Mark Serrano — who was convicted of the killings in December — had gone to the home to steal cocaine and cash from Tony Morey, a longtime friend of Gilleo's. The family's car and Fishkill home were then set ablaze in an attempt to cover up the crimes.
Autopsy results showed the two adults were shot, and the boys — 13-year-old Manuel; Adam, 10; and Ryan, 6 — were stabbed multiple times. The oldest boy was stabbed more than 80 times, and the youngest was also bludgeoned in the head.
A Dutchess County jury convicted Hopewell Junction resident Gilleo of multiple charges Saturday evening following almost 40 hours of deliberation. His sentencing is scheduled for later this month.
Gilleo and Serrano were each charged with 42 counts of murder, arson, burglary, conspiracy and perjury — including 20 charges of first-degree murder and 11 charges of second-degree murder.
The jury acquitted Gilleo of one second-degree murder charge.
"We obviously agree with the verdict," said Dutchess County Senior District Attorney Edward Mcloughlin, who tried the case. "It was a very complex case with five victims, 50 witnesses and 42 charges."
"We are gratified by the hard work the jury did, underlining the effort by state police to gather the case and solve it," he said Saturday evening.
Defense Attorney Jeffrey Hoerter declined comment following the verdict.
Calls to Tina Morey's mother and stepfather were not immediately returned.
Much of the prosecution's case against Gilleo relied on testimony from Serrano, who was convicted in December of 41 out of 42 charges. McLoughlin has said drugs, anger and bitterness spurred Gilleo to kill Tony Morey, his former friend. He argued that Gilleo was upset that Morey stopped letting him buy drugs on credit, and used Serrano to help him pull off the crimes.
Serrano has not been sentenced yet. Both men face up to five consecutive life sentences.
Previous Story: Conviction in Fishkill Murders (Dec. 5, 2007)
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