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Massachusetts

Jury sentences Massachusetts carjacking killer to death

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE - This Aug. 2, 2001, file photo shows Gary Sampson during arraignment in district court in Brockton, Mass. Sampson was sentenced to death in 2003 for the carjack killings of multiple men in 2001, but the sentence was overturned in 2011. Sampson was again sentenced to death Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, in federal court in Boston. (AP Photo/The Patriot Ledger, Greg Derr, Pool, File) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE - This Aug. 2, 2001, file photo shows Gary Sampson during arraignment in district court in Brockton, Mass. Sampson was sentenced to death in 2003 for the carjack killings of multiple men in 2001, but the sentence was overturned in 2011. Sampson was again sentenced to death Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, in federal court in Boston. (AP Photo/The Patriot Ledger, Greg Derr, Pool, File) (The Associated Press)

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    Mary Rizzo, left, mother of 19-year-old murder victim Jonathan Rizzo, hugs prosecuting attorney Dustin Chao, right, following a news conference at federal court, Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, in Boston. Gary Lee Sampson, who was convicted of killing two Massachusetts men in 2001 carjackings, was sentenced Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, to death in one of the slayings, and life in prison in the other. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (The Associated Press)

BOSTON – A drifter convicted of killing two Massachusetts men in carjackings in 2001 has been sentenced to death.

The federal jury on Monday sentenced Gary Lee Sampson to death for the killing of 19-year-old college student Jonathan Rizzo but gave him a life sentence for the killing of 69-year-old retiree Philip McCloskey.

The judge must follow the jury's decision.

Sampson's lawyers said he was brain damaged when he carjacked Rizzo and McCloskey, stabbed them more than a dozen times, slit their throats and left them to die in the woods.

Sampson was condemned to die in 2003 but later granted a new sentencing trial.

His attorney says Sampson took responsibility by confessing to the killings.

Sampson received a separate life sentence for killing a New Hampshire man the same week.

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