Morro Bay double murder suspect convicted

After more than two decades since the gruesome crime took place, a jury has finally convicted a man for the double-murder of 11-year-old Jerry Rios and his 37-year-old uncle, Stephen Wells, at Morro Strand State Beach in July 2001.

Stephen Deflaun was found guilty of fatally shooting both victims after an argument broke out over a campsite.

In addition to the murders, Deflaun also shot at a park ranger, an act for which he was found guilty as well. It is worth noting that Deflaun had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and failed every competency hearing for three years following the tragic incident.

In 2004, a judge committed Deflaun to the Atascadero State Hospital, and a conclusion was reached the same year that he was incompetent to stand trial. 

However, this ruling was overturned in December 2021, and he was subsequently held in the San Luis Obispo County Jail until the commencement of his trial, according to the County Sheriff's Office website.

The trial's sanity phase is set to begin on Thursday.