Philadelphia Drug Lord Convicted In 12 Murders
by Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Philadelphia drug lord is found guilty in the witness retaliation murder of a North Philadelphia family, and other killings dating back to 1998. His sister and two other men also have been convicted on serious charges.
The federal jury says Kaboni Savage committed or directed murders - 12 of them, including the deaths of four kids and two adults in their firebombed home nine years ago - retaliation for a former gang associate who'd been helping the FBI.
Click For Complete CBSPhilly Coverage Of Kaboni Savage
"It was really all of the evidence together that pointed in that direction -- witnesses, tape recordings, documents. All of that pointed in the same direction," said Assistant U.S. Attorney David Troyer.
Troyer says Savage's sister Kidada also was found guilty in those six murders. She, Steven Northington, and Robert Merritt were convicted of conspiracy in a violent drug-trafficking ring -- along with Kaboni Savage, who's also guilty of six more murders.
"In the penalty phase next week, Kaboni Savage will be facing potentially the death penalty," said Troyer.
As will Northington, convicted with Savage in two murders in 2003 and 2004.
