Washington jury finds ex-LV man guilty of murder

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Jurors have convicted former Las Vegan Justin Crenshaw on two counts of aggravated first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of a young man and a young woman.

After Tuesday's Superior Court verdict, Crenshaw faces life in prison with no chance of parole. He was convicted in the Feb. 28, 2008, deaths of 18-year-old Sarah Clark and 20-year-old Tanner Pehl. Defense lawyer Chris Bugbee contended Crenshaw suffered from "pathological intoxication."

According to The Spokesman-Review, Crenshaw moved to Spokane more than two years ago from Las Vegas where he had developed a heroin addiction.

He moved to Washington to start a new life and to reunite with his sister, according to the newspaper.

Deputy Prosecutor Jack Driscoll told jurors that Crenshaw grabbed a knife from Pehl's kitchen and stabbed Clark 26 times in a bedroom, then posed her with a samurai sword.

Evidence showed Crenshaw stabbed Pehl numerous times and thrust a sword through his body after he died, then set the house on fire.