The jury deliberated for just over 15 hours before announcing the verdict in the aggravated murder charge of Tonia Carmichael, the first of the 83 counts against Sowell. Carmichael's family embraced and cried when the judge announced the verdict.'

BY JAMES W. WADE III

A jury has found the now-convicted serial killer, Anthony Sowell, guilty of aggravated murder in the deaths of 11 women found in and around his Imperial Avenue home in June of 2009. He is now eligible for the death penalty.

The jury deliberated for just over 15 hours before announcing the verdict in the aggravated murder charge of Tonia Carmichael, the first of the 83 counts against Sowell. Carmichael's family embraced and cried when the judge announced the verdict. Sowell was immediately handcuffed by a court deputy.

The trial will now move into the mitigation phase, during which Sowell's lawyers will try to convince jurors that his life is worth sparing. The same jury will reconvene Aug. 1 to hear evidence in that phase. They can recommend a death sentence or life in prison with or without the chance for parole.

Judge Dick Ambrose will make the final decision on Sowell's punishment. He is not bound to the jury's recommendation but cannot impose a death sentence unless the jury recommends one.

Testimony in the trial - held in Judge Dick Ambrose's courtroom - lasted for three weeks. Prosecutors called 62 witnesses. The defense called none.

The jury of seven women and five men viewed hundreds of pieces of evidence.