Troy Brake guilty in Wright Twp murders

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) - Troy Brake was found guilty of first-degree murder and felony firearms charges in the deaths of four people in Wright Township in September 2008.

The jury deliberated for nine hours, including seven Thursday. The final, unanimous decision was reached at around 4 p.m.

Defense attorney Paul McDonagh said he plans to appeal the verdict, and that the case is far from over.

"Obviously, we're very disappointed," said Paul McDonagh, Brake's defense attorney. "Mr. Brake is disappointed. We didn't feel as though the evidence was strong enough to support the conviction, much less the evidence that wasn't presented that probably should have been."

Brake was found guilty of killing Sharm Zimmer, her sons, Jeremy and Tyler, and Jeremy's girlfriend, Katherine Brown, then setting the Zimmers' house on fire. The fire was reported at 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 29, 2008.

Before making the final decision, at around 3:15 p.m., the jury asked for the legal difference between first- and second-degree murder.

Shortly after the answer, the jury had made its decision. Brake will be sentenced July 6.

Although his friends and family declined to comment, 24 Hour News 8 spoke with a family friend of Katherine Brown. It is believed Brake killed the Zimmers to get to Brown.

"From the get-go, we feel that the police did a good job," Russ Barkow said."I mean, I believe the evidence just like the jury did.

"Troy Brake is going to answer for what he's done to someone a whole lot bigger than me, so I have nothing to say to Troy Brake. As a man that goes to church every Sunday, there truly is evil in the world."

Eight months and two days after the slayings, there is finally an end. Brake will go to prison for life without parole.

Bob Zimmer walked out of the courtroom with his daughter. The verdict was met with tears from members of the Zimmer and Brown families.

"I'm glad it's all over with, and (Brake) got what he deserved," Bob Zimmer said.

Brake gave no visible reaction.