Joseph Zieler sentenced to death for double murder

Reporter: Claire Galt Writer: Paul Dolan
Published: Updated:
Joseph Zieler in court. Credit: WINK News

Joseph Zieler has been sentenced to death in a double murder he committed in 1990.

He was convicted of double murder back in mid-May for the deaths of Robin Cornell, 11, and Lisa Story, 32, and the Jury recommended he receive the death penalty.

After appearing to elbowing a man earlier on Monday, Zieler found out his punishment in the afternoon.

WINK News spoke with Kevin Shirley, Zieler’s lawyer, about what happened in the courtroom.

“He called me over. And he didn’t. He acted like he didn’t want our conversation to get picked up by the microphone,” Shirley said. “So he’s waved me down. So I bent over. And he struck me.”

It’s the end of a living nightmare that’s been a 33-year-old reality for the victim’s family in the courtroom on Monday. The family erupted into applause and hugged each other when Judge Robert Branning read the verdict.

The judge heard from many people like Genie, Robin’s older sister, Randy Richards, Story’s fiancé, and Jan Cornell, Robin’s mother. On Monday afternoon, they all got the justice they had waited 33 long and excruciating years for.

Justice for Robin Cornell and Lisa Story is Zieler receiving the death penalty.

Ten out of 12 jurors recommended that Zieler be sentenced to death.

Stay tuned to WINKNews.com, WINK News App, streaming, and on air for any new developments on this story.

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