Man Faces Death Penalty After Horrifying Murders of Girlfriend and Her Family

A California man could now face the death penalty after being convicted in the horrifying murders of his girlfriend, her twin sister, and the woman’s husband during a violent 2020 shooting spree.

Eric Otto White, 63, was found guilty on April 30 of three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the killings of Kavina Madison Brooks, her twin sister Kavona Kimberly Brooks-Lee, and Brooks-Lee’s husband, Kenneth Lee.

According to court records, the deadly shootings happened within minutes on Aug. 16, 2020.

Prosecutors said White fatally shot all three victims during a violent outburst inside the family home.

The attack also left Brooks’ teenage daughter, Zanorra Brooks Killebrew, injured.

Brooks-Lee later died after being placed on life support following the shooting.

Authorities said White fled California immediately after the killings, changed his clothes, and escaped to Las Vegas.

Police eventually tracked him down and arrested him weeks later.

During the trial, prosecutors argued the killings were triggered after White became enraged over losing control inside the relationship.

According to testimony, the argument reportedly started after Brooks touched White’s karaoke speaker.

Brooks’ daughter, who was just 14 years old at the time of the massacre, testified in court and described the terrifying moments leading up to the shooting.

She also told jurors that the day before the killings, her mother had allegedly told White he could move out and that she would replace him with “someone else.”

Deputy District Attorney Justin Crocker argued that White reacted violently because he felt he was losing control over Brooks and the household.

White’s defense team, however, attempted to avoid first-degree murder convictions by focusing heavily on his mental health history.

Defense attorney James Rankin Gass argued White suffered from serious mental illnesses and had previously received psychiatric treatment.

A forensic psychologist testified that White had reportedly been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder along with bipolar and depressive episodes.

The expert also claimed White was not taking his prescribed medication at the time of the murders.

Despite those arguments, jurors ultimately convicted White on all three first-degree murder counts.

Now, a jury will recommend whether White should receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

The final decision will then be made by Judge Cheryl Kersey.

Following the verdict, Brooks-Lee’s daughter reacted emotionally to the conviction.

“Sad, but finally,” she reportedly said after learning White had been found guilty.

The sentencing phase is expected to move forward later this year.