UPDATED: Man Found Guilty In Bristol Twp. Triple Homicide

UPDATE: 9:53 p.m., Wednesday:

After deliberating since the end of closing arguments Tuesday afternoon, the jury in the Marcel Johnson triple-homicide case returned with their verdict Wednesday evening.

The jury of nine men and three women found the 22-year-old Bristol Township man guilty of two counts of first degree criminal homicide, a single count of third-degree criminal homicide and arson. The jury will hear evidence over the next several days that will end with a decision on whether Johnson should be sentenced to death or spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Late Wednesday morning, the jury requested to review several photos submitted as evidence and DNA reports from two labs. Judge Diane Gibbons approved the jury’s request to see the photos, but denied their request to see the DNA reports. It was decided late in the afternoon to continue deliberations into the evening.

Johnson, dressed in slacks and a button-up shirt, appeared to pay attention Wednesday while the judge gave the jury orders on the evidence they could see.

Since last week, a slew of witnesses have testified in Doylestown and dozens of of pieces of evidence, including graphic autopsy and crime scene photos have been presented.

Assistant District Attorney Matt Weintraub made the case that Johnson killed five-months pregnant Ebony Talley, 22, and her daughter, R’mani Rankins, 4, on November 25, 2013 in a subletted apartment at the Avalon Court complex on Bristol-Oxford Valley Road. Their bodies were discovered by first responders after Johnson set fire to the apartment where he stabbed them.

Witness statements placed Johnson at the scene minutes before the arson fire and the murder scene was discovered.

Johnson was arrested after a traffic stop outside the Levittown Trace apartments and later found to be in possession of items authorities said belonged to Talley.

Both Talley and Johnson were involved in the Lower Bucks County drug trade. During the trial, it was revealed that bags similar to those used to package heroin were found near Talley’s body, and the prosecution argued Johnson wanted more of her business.

A coroner testified Talley suffered around 30 stab wounds from her knees up. Talley’s womb carrying a male fetus was punctured and the baby died from his mother’s injuries. The little girl died from a large stab wound on her upper chest and suffered third-degree burns on her stomach, according to testimony.

Authorities, including Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito, also testified about the arson fire that was apparently set in an attempt to conceal evidence.

Family and friends of Talley and R’mani attended the trial throughout.

Calkins Media reporter Hayden Mitman noted Johnson showed “little reaction when the verdict was announced.”

“Mr. Johnson was certainly leaving the scene of this crime, we conceded that throughout the case. He left the scene of the crime very shortly before the fire was discovered, and evidence like that is hard to overcome,” Penglase told CBSPhilly.com following the verdict.

The penalty phase of the case will begin Thursday morning in courtroom 460.

Original Story:

A Bristol Township man has been found guilty in a violent triple homicide that happened in 2013.

A jury found 22-year-old Bristol Township resident Marcel Johnson guilty of two counts of first-degree criminal homicide and a single count of third-degree criminal homicide, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. The verdict came down Wednesday evening at the Justice Center in Doylestown.

Prosecutors made the case Johnson killed five-months pregnant Ebony Talley, 22, and her daughter, R’mani Rankins, 4, on November 25, 2013 in the Avalon Court Apartments.

The trial for Johnson began last week, and the jury began deliberations Tuesday afternoon.

An updated story will be published later Tuesday evening.