A judge sentenced John Reed to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Friday. In May, a jury found Reed guilty of killing an Oso couple in 2016 who he bitterly feuded with for years.
Reed was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Patrick Shunn and second-degree murder in the death of Monique Patenaude. Reed was also found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Prosecutor Craig Matheson said the jury could not come to an agreement that Patenaude's murder was premeditated.
"They indicated the vast amount of their deliberation time was talking about that particular fact. When we charged we thought it might be an issue. Completely understand how they got there," Matheson said.
Both sides agreed Reed was responsible for killing the couple, but they disagreed as to how and why.
During closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutors argued that Reed should be found guilty on two counts of aggravated first-degree murder.
Reed claimed the couple confronted him with a gun. But using bloody shopping receipts and cell phone data showing each victim's physical movement, Matheson argued Patenaude was killed hours before husband.
Reed's attorney called the state's case "fluff" and "voodoo science." Attorney Phil Sayles portrayed Patenaude as a litigious antagonist who sparked the deadly confrontation and casts doubt about the claim that Reed would wait around hours to kill the husband after the wife.
After the verdict was read, Sayles admitted the jury may have had a hard time believing both Reed brothers' testimonies. But he said he did not regret putting John Reed on the stand.
Shunn and Patenaude's family declined to comment on the verdict until after sentencing in July.
