Jurors deliberated for more than four hours Thursday before convicting Robert Joe Whittenburg, 47, of Pikeville, on two counts of murder, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported. He was charged in the slayings of Dedra Lawrence, 24, who was his girlfriend, and her mother, Deanna Lawrence, 46. The women were found dead in their Bledsoe County home in 2017.

Whittenburg was with them and injured, but authorities said his injuries were self-inflicted. He testified that he had no memory of what happened to the women but recalled trying to kill himself. His lawyer argued that the women could have attacked each other with the ax and Whittenburg became involved in trying to stop it.

After the verdict, a family member of the victims, Natasha Stoner, said justice had been served.

“We feel like we can rest easy and now Deanna and Dedra can rest peacefully,” she said.