John Quinones

Then the jury was sent away for deliberation.

They returned less than four hours later with their verdict.

They found Great guilty on all charges.

Given Great's confessions to Detective Major, the verdict was not a total surprise, but sentencing was still very much up in the air.

With 23 guilty counts, it looked likely that Great would face years in prison, but he was also eligible for the death penalty.

At an earlier hearing, Great's lawyers told the court that they knew their client wouldn't walk out of the courtroom a free man.

But would he walk out as a man condemned to death?

In deciding Great's punishment, the court would hear more evidence.

Two more days of testimony.

This testimony wasn't for the jury, but for the judge to help him decide if Great deserved the death penalty.

The day of the sentencing, a few weeks later, was on June 1st, 2018.

It was a warm and humid day with clouds overhead.

Things looked different inside the courtroom than they had when the trial began.

Now, instead of a shirt and tie, Great was in a yellow prison jumpsuit.

And the room was packed.

On one side, the pews were filled with people wearing purple, Stacey Stanley's favorite color.

Stacey's cousin had gotten special purple t-shirts made with slogans on them.

Justice for Stacey and Stanley Strong.

All of Stacey's loved ones were wearing them.

Great was given the opportunity to address the court, filled with the loved ones of the women he'd murdered.