Man convicted of 2 counts of first-degree murder

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Minutes after a Mecklenburg County jury convicted him of killing two teenage girls 15 years ago, Antwan Sanders stood in court, turned to the families of his victims, and apologized.

"I can’t express how much sorrow I feel," Sanders said.

Sanders was then sentenced to three life terms in prison, one each for the murders of 17-year-old Tasha Lopes and 15-year-old Raylynn Chelton. The third life term was for the first-degree sexual assault of Chelton.

Antwan Sanders

Both girls were kidnapped at gunpoint in June of 1993 from a South Charlotte apartment complex. Five days later their bodies were found. Both had been raped and shot in the head.

The case went nowhere for 10 years until the new Charlotte-Mecklenbug Police Cold Case Squad took another look at it. Sanders and two other men were charged. One has already pleaded guilty. The third is awaiting trial.

The jury deliberated 11 and a half hours before reaching a verdict.