Jury selection continues in turnpike killings trial
January 12th, 2009 by Daphne DuretWEST PALM BEACH — All but 2 of 13 potential jurors were excused this morning in the federal death penalty trial surrounding the 2006 slayings of a family of four along Florida’s Turnpike.
Most of the prospective jurors this morning said they had been exposed to publicity surrounding the deaths of Jose Luis and Yessica Escobedo, who along with their young sons Luis Damien and Luis Julian were found shot multiple times along the highway in Port St. Lucie.
| Family slain |
 Jose and Yessica Escobedo with sons Luis Julian (left) and Luis Damian (right). Husband, wife and two children from Greenacres found shot to death off Florida’s Turnpike in northern Port St. Lucie. More news, photos |
Two men, Ricardo Sanchez, Jr. and Daniel Troya, are facing the death penalty for crimes related to the deaths. Anpther two, Danny Varela and Liana Lee Lopez, could receive up to life in prison if convicted on related drug charges.
Investigators say the four and Jose Luis Escobedo were a part of a drug ring that transported cocaine between Texas and Florida.
The Escobedos had move to Greenacres several months before they were killed.
U.S. District Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley will continue interviewing potential jurors this afternoon. Most of the jurors excussed this morning were released for financial reasons or because of their feelings about the death penalty.
Hurley and attorneys in the case are working to narrow a pool of more than 300 potential jurors down to 80 people from which they will choose a final panel.
The trial is expected to last between two and three months.
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January 26th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I knew Troya all through elementary school up through middle school and even THEN I knew what kind of person he would turn out to be. What a low-life dumbass. I hope he fries.