Man convicted in Marshalltown double murder

UPDATE: A jury has convicted a West Des Moines man of killing his estranged wife and her boyfriend along a road near Marshalltown.

The jury on Monday found Kyle Deemer guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. The jury rejected claims he shot his wife, Jessica Deemer, and Bryce Mercer in a fog of drugs on Oct. 17, 2008.

Deemer's trial was moved from Marshall County to Humboldt County because of pretrial publicity.

In closing arguments Monday, prosecutor Jennifer Miller said Deemer signaled his desire to kill the two "months before, weeks before, days before, hours before, minutes before, even seconds before" he shot them.

In his closing arguments, defense attorney Aaron Hawbaker told the jury Deemer may be guilty of a crime, but not first-degree murder.

-- Associated Press