FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jurors find Juan Mendez guilty in the deaths of his estranged wife and mother-in-law.

Jurors deliberated for less than 2 hours when they returned with their verdict.

Mendez was on trial for stabbing his wife, Whitney Mendez and her mother, Lori Stone to death.

Both women were stabbed at total of 47 times.

They were found murdered in their Lehigh Acres home in July 2006.

After the verdict was read their family rejoiced.

John Carlson, Lori's brother and Whitney's uncle told WINK News justice was done.

However, Juan Mendez's family said the real killer is still on the loose.

Mendez's mom said jurors had made up their mind before they started deliberating and that "they are racists".

Juan Mendez will be sentenced on February 22, 2010.

He faces two life prison terms.
------------------------------------

UPDATE: Jurors are now deliberating the Juan Mendez case.

They went into the jury room around 2pm.

Juan Mendez faces two counts of 2nd degree murder.

Jurors do have the option of finding him guilty of manslaughter if they see fit.

Trust WINK News to be on the verdict watch and let you know what jury decides.

-------------------------------------------
ORIGINAL STORY:

Juan Mendez's double murder trial resumed Tuesday morning.

Mendez is accused of stabbing to death his estranged wife, Whitney Mendez and her mother, Lori Stone.

The two women were stabbed a total of 47 times.

They were found murdered inside their Lehigh Acres home in July 2006.

In court Tuesday morning, Prosecutors hammered into jurors that DNA evidence points to Juan Mendez.

Prosecutor Cynthia Ross told jurors his DNA was found at the crime scene.

She also pointed out that robbery was not a motive in this crime.

There was no sign of forced entry and nothing was taken from the home.

Ross said the victims knew their killer.

She said the murders were so brutal that it's obvious they were motivated "by hatred".

Defense attorney Nicole Malick said during her closing argument that the case is filled with mistakes and innuendo.

She split closing argument duties with co-defense attorney Jay Brizel.

Brizel attacked the police work on this case.

Former lead detective Sgt. Walter Ryan admitted on the stand he did not follow up on leads.

Brizel said investigators didn't collect evidence to see where it took them, instead they "shoehorned" evidence to make it fit Juan Mendez as the killer.

Closing arguments will continue into the lunch hour.

Jurors will then get their instructions from the Judge.

Once that is done, they will begin deliberating.

Trust WINK News to be follow every development.

Follow Nick Spinetto on Twitter @NickSpinetto