Ex-Ga. youth pastor found guilty of murdering two former friends
(CBS/AP) MARIETTA, Ga. - A one-time Georgia youth pastor has been found guilty of murder in the 2004 killings of two of his former friends.
The jury deliberated for about 45 minutes on Monday before convicting 33-year-old Joshua Kevin Drucker of McDonough, of malice murder and felony murder in the April 5, 2004 shootings of 40-year-old David Andrew Robertson and 25-year-old Lora Nikolova.
Drucker was also convicted of armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and credit card fraud.
Prosecutors said Drucker went to Robertson's house near Marietta under the pretense of visiting him, according to the Atlantic Journal-Constitution. They reportedly say he chatted with Robertson and Nikolova and when Robertson stood to go get marijuana from the kitchen, Drucker shot him. Drucker then shot Nikolova when she bean hitting him and screaming "you killed him."
A videotaped statement shown during the trial, the Journal-Constitution reports, indicates Drucker murdered Robertson for revenge. In the statement, he reportedly tells investigators that Robertson had dated his sister, Amanda Drucker, and that Robertson gave her drugs that she overdosed on, causing permanent brain damage.
The Journal-Constitution reports that Drucker at one time served as youth minister at the Global Outreach Church in Stockbridge where his father was minister.
Drucker's attorneys had asked the jury to convict him on the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter for shooting Robertson and acquit him in the death of Nikolova, which they called an accident.
Prosecutors say they intend to seek the death penalty in the sentencing phase of the trial, which could begin Tuesday.