Sheriff: Accused serial killer Lucky Ward convicted of capital murder

Lucky Ward, left, and his attorney Allen Isbell, right, during his death penalty trial Monday, Feb. 17, 2020 at the 183rd District Criminal Court in Houston. Ward is accused in the 2010 killings of a homeless woman, Reita Long, and a transgender woman identified in court records as Carlos Rodriguez. less Lucky Ward, left, and his attorney Allen Isbell, right, during his death penalty trial Monday, Feb. 17, 2020 at the 183rd District Criminal Court in Houston. Ward is accused in the 2010 killings of a homeless ... more Photo: Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle Photo: Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Sheriff: Accused serial killer Lucky Ward convicted of capital murder 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

A Harris County jury on Monday found accused serial killer Lucky Ward guilty in two strangling deaths from 2010, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a tweet.

The jury will now hear evidence in the punishment phase of the capital murder trial and decide whether to sentence Ward to life in prison or death.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys brought forward two weeks worth of evidence in the first phase of the trial. He was convicted Monday of killing Reita Long, a woman who was homeless at the time of her death, and a transgender woman named Charlie, whose legal name was Carlos Rodriguez.

Ward is the longest-serving defendant in the Harris County Jail and awaited trial for nearly 10 years.