If you've lived in the valley for some time, you have probably heard the name David Anthony. He's a Scottsdale man convicted of killing his wife and two stepchildren.
Anthony was convicted in 2002 and sentenced to death. But earlier this year, the Arizona Supreme Court granted him a new trial.
The judge on his case had first allowed the jury to hear evidence that Anthony molested his step daughter.
But the state's highest court said that evidence should not have been introduced.
Anthony's second trial has been going on for several weeks, and Monday, the jury heard closing arguments from both sides.
Even though the retrial didn't include the claims of molestation, prosecutors still described a mountain of evidence they say points to one and only one conclusion: David Anthony killed his ex-wife and her two kids, then tried to literally wash away the evidence.
David Anthony's hair has turned gray in his years on death row. He is now in a wheelchair.
In this retrial, prosecutors say they have something they didn't when Anthony was convicted the first time.
They have the scant remains of Anthony's ex-wife Donna, and her kids Danielle and Richard Romero.
In 2005, construction workers in Buckeye discovered all three buried in 55-gallon drums filled with acid.
Prosecutors say he killed her because she wanted to leave him -- and he wanted her money.
"Donna Anthony made poor decisions like all of us do about her relationships," says prosecutor Vince Imbordino. "She was about to get out of it in this case, but she just did not get out in time."
Defense attorneys say Anthony did not kill his wife and her children. They said he actually tried to help investigators.
The police wrote these words and they are: 'He is in the lobby wanting to report the wife and two step kids missing.' Those are police words," says defense attorney Billy Little.
The defense suggested Donna Romero and her kids were killed by another former husband.
But prosecutors told the jury after Donna and her kids went missing David Anthony lived it up, spending her money freely and calling an escort service.
The trial began in early June. The defense attorney finished up Monday. Prosecutors get the last word Tuesday.
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David Anthony (file photo)
