Guilty verdict in 'satanic' murder trial

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- He said he did it to sell his soul to the devil and now Jose Reyes is going to prison for the brutal rape, torture and murder of 15-year-old Corriann Cervantes.

It took jurors less than an hour to find Reyes guilty of capital murder, agreeing with the prosecutors that as part of a satanic ritual, Reyes brutally killed Cervantes, then left her body in a cold empty apartment.

"It was just extremely hard to believe that kind of evil exits in this world," said Jennifer Hall, who is friends with the victim's family. "In this day and age, how can somebody do that to another human being?"

Cervantes' family and friends were relieved That four days of gruesome testimony is over. During closing, prosecutor John Jordan held up a part of a toilet lid that Reyes used to hit Cervantes.

"And we know he hit her at least 15 times. Think about that in your mind when they want you to hesitate to convict him of capital murder," said Jordan.

Defense attorneys tried to convince jurors to convict Reyes of the lesser charge of murder, not capital murder. But the jury was unconvinced, handing down a swift verdict with an automatic life sentence.

It was justice for one devastated family.

"I'm just glad the court system worked and he got what he deserved," said Cory Cervantes, Sr.

Because of his age, Reyes was not eligible for the death penalty.