DNA evidence and witness testimony helped convict a Washington County man Friday of a 2007 double homicide.

Eugene Joseph Nagy, 30, of Donora, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of robbery and a single theft charge in the Sept. 11, 2007, beating deaths of Vince W. Trotta, 47, and Yvonne M. Helton, 40.

He faces a mandatory sentence of two life terms; prosecutors previously withdrew their request for the death penalty.

Prosecutors accused Mr. Nagy of bludgeoning to death his friend Mr. Trotta and Ms. Helton with a 2-by-4 as they lay nude in Mr. Trotta's bed.

The group spent a long night doing drugs and having sex in Mr. Trotta's second-floor apartment above Phat Dawgs Bar and Grill on Meldon Avenue in Donora, prosecutors said.

Mr. Trotta, a contractor who occasionally employed Mr. Nagy as a laborer, had been paid $3,000 cash that day for a roofing job in nearby Nottingham.

Police theorized that Mr. Nagy killed the two so he could steal about $2,000 in cash that Mr. Trotta still had left after spending a little more than $1,000.

Witnesses testified that Mr. Nagy used a wad of money to settle a bar tab at Phat Dawgs and to purchase crack cocaine after the murders.

Mr. Nagy told police he partied with Mr. Trotta and Ms. Helton and had sex with the latter before leaving the apartment and heading home shortly after midnight.

His former live-in girlfriend, Stephanie Huweart, testified that Mr. Nagy did not come home that night, a claim bolstered by cell phone records indicating that Ms. Huweart tried to reach Mr. Nagy several times after 1 a.m.

Defense lawyer Dennis Paluso argued his client was not forthcoming with police because he didn't want his girlfriend to find out about Ms. Helton and his drug use.

Police testified that a partial DNA profile on the 2-by-4 was a 1-in-440,000,000 match to Mr. Nagy. The board, found a block away from the apartment, also contained blood from the victims.

Mr. Nagy is expected to be sentenced soon by Judge Debbie O'Dell Seneca.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Lucas said he was pleased with the outcome.

"I'm satisfied with the verdict and I think the families are satisfied as well," he said.

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