Robert Joe Whittenburg, 47, was found guilty of two First Degree Murder charges by a jury in Winchester on Thursday afternoon, August 5, according to Bledsoe County Circuit Court Clerk Michael Walker.

Whittenburg was found guilty of killing his girlfriend Dedra Lawrence and her mother Deann Lawrence with a fireman’s ax. the murder took place on October 30, 2017 on Sawmill Road in Pikeville.

Closing arguments were held Thursday morning and the jury took a few hours before reaching their conclusion.

The trial began on Tuesday, August 2, and was moved to Winchester, in Franklin County, last week by Judge Thomas Graham due to heavy media coverage of the trial.

Whittenburg will be sentenced on September 30 in Sequatchie County, Walker added.