LANCASTER – A jury has found a 24-year-old man guilty of murdering a woman and her three young daughters and then setting their Lancaster home on fire, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
Corey Lynn King was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and torture for three of the victims, according to Assistant Head Deputy Robert Sherwood.
King also was found guilty of one count each of arson of an inhabited structure and grand theft auto.
The penalty phase of the trial to determine whether King will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole or death is scheduled to begin on Dec. 2 in Department A19 of the Antelope Valley courthouse.
The jury deliberated for three hours before returning with guilty verdicts following a trial that lasted four weeks.
King, who was at the house as a family friend, stabbed Sonya Durfield Harris, 43, more than 50 times and Ebony Horton, 13, more than 60 times on Sept. 9, 2008 at the Avenue J-3 home, according to evidence presented at trial. Melinda Harris, 11, was beaten and stomped to death and Kayla Clark, 9, was strangled by King, the prosecutor said.
Evidence at trial revealed that following the killings, King drove to a nearby gas station, filled up several bottles with gasoline, poured it over the victims and throughout the house and set it on fire.
Sherwood said in court that an argument was a possible motive for the murder of Sonya Harris. He added that the children were murdered because they were witnesses to their mother’s murder.
The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
[Information via press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.]
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Previous related story: Lancaster quadruple murder trial underway
john j says
It’s funny how people mention that he will be judged by God for what he did. Where was “God” when this act occurred? Where was he in the Holocaust, 9/11, the Sandy Hook School shootings? He is no where because he does not exist. The sooner we realize this and begin accepting responsibility for our own actions the better humanity will coexist.
Randy says
Troll much?
God gave man free will. that means that sometimes men will perform savage acts. It is, in each case you cited, men that performed these acts against each other. Why do you feel it necessary to try to undermine these people’s faith? Do you feel better “knowing” that there is no God to seek aid from in times of trouble? Leave these people to their beliefs. If you want to persecute the faithful, go start a thread entitled correctly instead of hijacking threads that are already sad enough without your misanthrope contribution.
rip cousin's says
I am not angry at him for what he did, I am not going to let the devil still my joy… we must pray for him and let justice do it’s do…he is pure evil and I will not let his evil still my joy with anger and hate…. I am mad at the justice system for the laws that allowed him back on the streets in order to do this…. this has thought me a lesson…lead your child in the way you want them to go…..his parents did a bad job and the justice system did a bad job…I hope they do the right thing this time..
No Name says
I wish a form of public flogging were available. Every day put him on display and let people hit him, throw rocks, light matches; whatever (come to think of it maybe the parents of Gabriel Fernandez could dish out the punishment the way they did to that little boy).
callitasitis says
He should get the death penalty but it will not happen for another 25 years at the earliest time after appeals are all heard. Some social justice group (PC) will say that the lethal injection is cruel and inhumane. Someone said because of the cost of the appeal process is extremely high he should get life without parole. You know is still entitled to file appeals after appeals even with life w/o parole. He will use the system to his benefit at the taxpayers’ expense because he has time on his side. What we need is the TEXAS system to move this type of trash out feet first. I would love to know his family history. Monsters do not just pop up they were raised by someone.
elle says
Why does everyone keep saying death penalty?? I think that’s letting him off easy, I think he should serve the the rest of his life in prison, to everyday be reminded of what he did. R.I.P. to these 3 girls and their mother
callitasitis says
@elle
Why, the death penalty because he could care less about his victims. You can read how he murdered them. He only cared about himself. Given him the death penalty so he gets to think (stress) about his day on the table. Life is prison is not piece of cake but it is living. He can get married and have contact with his family. He can read, write letters & watch TV He can file appeals until the end of his time.* But if he knows that “one day” his appeals run out, his time runs out too.
Cooll717 says
The reason why death penalty is after 5 years of jail they all get use to jail it becomes home they get vist from love ones they get tv cable food 3 times a day sex, drugs phone privileges he’ll I have even seen some of them get Facebook accounts using cellphone they have I know you think there doing hard time lol no not in a American jail only in a foreign country would it be hell on earth.
Carly says
That man does not care about his victims. He will not live with the guilt and heartache that you or I would knowing we brutally took the lives of four young ladies. Punishment is meant to fit the crime. Is this man able to eventually be a rejoin society? Certainly not. Then the answer is either life in prison or the death penalty. In a state such as ours where the death penalty exists, if murdering a mother and three daughters does not warrant such an extreme punishment, then what does? How many would he have to murder to warrant the death penalty? Had he slain one cop, or one politician, he would’ve been dead by now. Frankly, I don’t there is an easy answer. If someone is “pro” the death penalty, one could find lesser murders that would warrant the death penalty; but, if you are “con”, there is never a justification for taking a life.
John says
He will in all likelihood be sent to California State Prison-Lancaster where if he resides on “A” Yard he will be able to order pizza, have the use of a micro-wave in his housing unit where he can pop his pop corn and watch his state provided flat screen t.v. in the day room. Also he will be given the chance to train dogs for a program called, “Paws For Life”. Don’t forget the softball games, volleyball games, horseshoes, chess, working out etc. He might be able to play in the band on the weekends! I know,,, I used to work there. If this angers you,,,,, thank a liberal. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation=JOKE!
What? says
He’ll never see a yard like that, in prison. First stop, Pelican Bay, then when appeals are done etc. he can go to the death row in Quentin.
John says
He won’t get the death penalty. Which would impove his chances to going to Camp Snoopy (California State Prison-Lancaster/A yard. On that yard they have the worst of the worst: Rapists, Murderers, Drug Pushers, etc. All at taxpayer expense. Remember to thank a liberal!
Thankful says
The only punishment this creep deserves is equal to that of which he gave his victims!
Eva Jefferson says
Thank you all for your support me and
my family do appreciate it and were also
Happy to have justice and to be able to let
My cousins and Auntie rest in peace now every
Thing else is in gods hands
Anonymous says
Thank You God!! About time, let him rot in jail and go to HELL for taking
Innocent lifes. I feel no remorse for him for what he done to my good friends
Family smh. May God bless my friend and his family in this hard time, and know they can have peace and closure .
Kent Shakur says
Too bad you didn’t get the death penalty you scumbag Corey. We all hope you rot behind bars and meet your devilish/Satanic maker when you expire.
corrie says
He hasn’t been formally sentenced but I’m willing to bet he gets the death penalty, first degree with the circumstance, the death penalty is almost a sure thing.
JumpinJackFlash says
The death penalty is only good if it’s applied. This state needs to start cleaning out death row by doing their duty and carrying out the defined penalty.
But with Gov Brown and Att Harris in charge, this isn’t likely.
bird says
JumpinJackFlash—You’re absolutely right! I just got through reading about how much more tax payers money is spent on each death row inmate than inmates in general population. Not to mention death penalty trials which cost tax payers an enormous amount of money. Liberals love spending other peoples money.
Anonymous says
Now…. send him to the firing squad.