Hector Rodriguez found guilty of first-degree murder in Cady Way Trail slayings

Rodriguez 2nd man convicted in deaths of Winter Park teens

ORLANDO, Fla. – A man accused of killing two Winter Park teens on the Cady Way Trail has been found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury.

Hector Rodriguez, 32, was on trial for the April 2012 slayings of 16-year-old Nicholas Presha and 18-year-old Jeremy Stewart.

Rodriguez was found guilty on one count of first-degree murder with a firearm by a jury after four hours of deliberations.

He was sentenced to two consecutive life in prison sentences in the slayings of the teens, whose bodies were found burning on the side of the popular Winter Park bike trail.

Prosecutor Ken Lewis said the families of Presha and Stewart are happy with the outcome.

"They're very satisfied this has been a long haul and as you know they were jerked around with a potential plea, this was very difficult," Lewis said.

Rodriguez's legal team says they plan to appeal the conviction.

Another man, Jesse Davis, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in November 2012 and was sentenced to life in prison for the teens' deaths.

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