Aurel Mich, 38 of Germantown, was convicted of the first-degree murder of Lydia Medina, former employee of the George Bacchus Salon on River Road, and her brother Eli on June 16.
The jury deliberated for 45 minutes after a six-day trial. Mich faces the possibility of life without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 16.
On August 7, 2002 at approximately 10 p.m., Montgomery County Police responded to a call in the 12100 block of Brittania Circle in Germantown for a domestic dispute between Mich and Lydia Medina. Lydia Medina left the house with her brother to stay with him for the night. Police officers were present when she left.
At approximately 10:45 that same night, police received another call for the same house. As officers drove to the house, a citizen alerted them to two people lying on the ground near the corner of Hottinger Circle and Waring Station Road. Officers immediately recognized them as Lydia and Eli Medina.
Both were unresponsive and suffering from severe head wounds. The victims were pronounced dead at a local hospital that night.
Mich beat the two to death with a metal car jack handle and drove his truck to and from the area where the bodies were found.
Lydia Medina called 911 and was speaking with a 911 operator while Mich murdered her brother. The conversation was recorded on tape.
Mich returned to the house on Brittania Circle where he was arrested. Police found blood on his shirt and hands, which DNA evidence confirmed to be the blood of Eli Medina.