Yakima County Prosecutor Considering Death Penalty in Moneytree Double Slaying

Yakima County Prosecutor Joe Brusic could ask a jury to impose the death penalty in the March 26 double homicide at the Moneytree lending business in Yakima.

Twenty-six-year-old Manuel Enrique Verduzco faces two counts of aggravated first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Moneytree employees Karina Morales-Rodriguez, 27, and Marta Martinez, 30.

Brusic tells KIT News, "It is my duty and authority to evaluate evidence that could be mitigating or aggravating to determine whether to seek and file a special document and allows us to pursue the death penalty as an option."
Even though the Gov. Jay Inslee has placed a moratorium on the death penalty in the state, prosecutors can still ask juries to impose the penalty at the time of sentencing. Brusic says the moratorium would only allow the governor to stop an execution after the person has been sentenced and placed on death row.

Verduzco is expected to face an arraignment on the charges on Monday. He's being held in the Yakima County jail after a judge revoked his $1 million bail last week.