A jury convicted an East Hills man in a 2004 double homicide and kidnapping in Lincoln-Lemington in which police didn't locate a teenage victim's body for five days.

Jaurvon Hopkins, 26, was found guilty of abducting and killing James R. Jones, 26, of Wilkinsburg, and Shawnte Betts, 17, of Beltzhoover, in July near Lincoln and Lemington avenues.

After several hours of deliberation, the jury found him guilty of two counts each of second-degree murder, kidnapping, unlawful restraint and conspiracy. The other defendant in the slayings, Lester Johnson of Garfield, was convicted in a separate capital homicide trial. The jury then deadlocked on the death penalty question. He was sentenced to back-to-back life sentences for two counts each of first-degree murder, unlawful restraint, kidnapping and conspiracy.

Once he heard the verdict this afternoon, Mr. Hopkins' only request of Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski was that he not be placed in "the bubble," an area of the county jail. He had reason to think he would be placed there.

Tiffanee Smith, 41, the slain girl's mother, sat through every day of both homicide trials. She said after the verdict today, "I believe in 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' If you take someone's life you should give yours up. I do feel for his mom. But my daughter is gone."

Daniel Fitzsimmons, chief trial deputy for the Allegheny District Attorney's office, said it was absolutely the correct verdict.

He said that Mr. Johnson was "more of a principal actor in the case" whereas Mr. Hopkins was "more of an accomplice." A witness saw Mr. Johnson shooting Mr. Jones. Mr. Hopkins was seen yanking Ms. Betts into her own car. He also drove the car used in the kidnapping a witness said.

The victim's bodies, both with bullet wounds, were recovered in two different locations.

Sentencing was set for Feb. 17.

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