Opening arguments are expected to begin today in the federal death penalty trial surrounding the 2006 slayings of a young Greenacres family of four along Florida’s Turnpike.

A panel of seven men and five women was picked Monday to decide the drug conspiracy case against Danny Varela, Liana Lee Lopez, Ricardo Sanchez and Daniel Troya. Jurors could impose death sentences against Sanchez and Troya, who are charged in the killings of the Escobedo family. (more…)

WEST 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.

WEST PALM BEACH — Jury selection continued today in the drug conspiracy trials of four people, including two men who also face the death penalty for other crimes related to the 2006 death of a family of four along Florida’s Turnpike.

In October 2006, Jose Luis Escobedo, 28, his wife, Yessica, 25, and their 3 and 4-year-old sons Luis Damian and Luis Julian, were shot to death along Florida’s Turnpike in Port St. Lucie, victims of an apparent drug-related killing.

Daniel Troya and Ricardo Sanchez Jr. face the death penalty if convicted on charges related to the slayings. Danny Varela and Liana Lee Lopez, face life in prison on drug charges. (more…)

One woman sat in the jury box alone, puzzled as U.S. District Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley asked her whether she could consider factors that would support a life sentence instead of a death penalty if she sat on a jury that convicted two men of charges related to the 2006 deaths of a young family of four.

"I mean, what overrides the death of small children?" the woman asked.

By noon today, two other women had been in tears.

The judge later explained that one said she couldn't under any circumstances sentence anyone to die, and the other would have faced a hardship and possibly a legal liability if she took that much time away from work.

And so went the beginning of jury selection in the case known as the "Turnpike" slayings.

In October 2006, Jose Luis Escobedo, 28, his wife, Yessica, 25, and their 3 and 4-year-old sons Luis Damian and Luis Julian, were shot to death along Florida's Turnpike in Port St. Lucie, victims of an apparent drug-related killing.

Daniel Troya and Ricardo Sanchez Jr. face the death penalty if convicted on charges related to the slayings. Danny Varela and Liana Lee Lopez, face life in prison on drug charges.

Investigators say the four, along with Jose Luis Escobedo, were involved in a drug-trafficking operation that transported cocaine between Texas and Florida.

More than 2,000 jury questionnaires were sent out. Several hundred were dismissed because the potential jurors were exempt from service. Attorneys reviewed those remaining and submitted lists of people to dismiss. In the end, the group was narrowed to a little of more than 300 potential jurors.

Attorneys this afternoon also argued issues related to the case, such as whether defense experts should have to hand over results of psychological tests on Troya and Sanchez to state experts and whether Hurley should question potential jurors individually regarding their thoughts on the death penalty.

Hurley said he will continue to question the panel in groups of about 14 people, hoping to get through two groups each day. Jurors who make it through the first round of questioning will be called back in about two weeks for a final jury selection.

Several members of the defendants' families were in court today, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kastranenkas said members of the Escobedo family were expected to arrive next week.

The trial is expected to last between two and three months.

Somewhere in the Texas border town of Brownsville, the bodies of Yessica Guerrero Escobedo, her husband, Jose Luis Escobedo, and their two sons lie in a cemetery together.

Felipe Guerrero never goes there. Even now, more than two years after the family was gunned down execution-style along Florida’s Turnpike at Port St. Lucie, Guerrero sobs over the phone as he admits that he still cannot bring himself to visit his daughter’s grave.

“They tell me I’m crazy. My heart is sore,” he said from Brownsville, sighing before repeating: “My only daughter, my only daughter and my little boys.” (more…)