Darren Englert found guilty on 6 of 9 counts

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The family of a murdered Lafayette man said a guilty verdict helps ease the pain Friday night, but not very much.  After five hours of deliberation, a jury found Englert guilty of six charges related to the death of Jeremy Gibson last summer.

"I just wish he was here," said Jeremy's sister, Jennifer Gibson-Sargent.  "I wish Jeremy was here so bad."

It's been a difficult week full of memories for the Gibson family.

After three days of trial, Englert, who has already pleaded guilty to his role in Gibson's murder in July 2011, was convicted Friday of six additional charges including conspiracy to commit murder and criminal confinement.

"I'm glad it's over," said Jennifer.  "I guess I just wish that it would make things a little easier."

But this week's trial wasn't easy, forcing family members to relive his death, along the way gaining new insight on the brutality of it.  For the first time, they saw crime scene pictures of Gibson's body, damaged by acid.

"The pictures that horrified me," said Jennifer.  "(Englert) just stood there like it was nothing."

After the verdict was announced, Englert walked from the courtroom, escorted by guards, not saying a word.

"I wish just even a tear, maybe he would feel our pain for one second," said Jennifer.

Englert already faces 45 to 65 years in prison for the murder charge.  The verdicts Friday mean he faces an additional six to 24 years.

"I think the verdict reflects that this is a horrific crime, a brutal crime," said Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington.  "It should have never happened."

Harrington refers to Antonio Williams who died in prison earlier this year after being charged with murder.  He was mistakenly released from prison by the Department of Corrections more than a year early on a different conviction.

"If (Williams) had been in prison, the likelihood of these three co-defendants coming together doesn't exist," said Harrington.  "Unfortunately a young man who was working hard to have a good life died for no reason."

Making those crime scenes photos and the entire week all the more painful for Jennifer.

"Until we saw some of the pictures, it almost seemed like it wasn't real still and it was just a nightmare we're going to wake up from," she said.

Two things that are real are Gibson's two boys, Dakota Kye and Riley, who both two years old.  Jennifer is working to adopt them both.
    
With them in mind, she said, regardless of the length of Englert's sentence, it's not long enough.    

"Why should he have a life, why should he get to walk around with the rest of us, when my brother doesn't get to anymore," she questioned.

The jury found Englert not guilty of three of the nine charges, all related to fraud.  His sentencing date will be determined Tuesday morning.

Carolann Clear who pleaded guilty to her role in Gibson's death and was the prosecution's star witness in Englert's trial is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 29.