A man accused of second-degree murder in 2010 was found guilty as charged Wednesday, January 31, 2018, by a Caddo Parish District judge.

Javonte D. Sanders, 26, of Shreveport, went before District Judge Brady D. O’Callaghan in the bench trial that began Monday, January 29, 2018.

Sanders was found guilty of the November 2010 slaying of Sherri Ann Payton, 47, whose body was found in the bathroom of her Lynbrook Boulevard home in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Her Pontiac Grand Am was missing but later was found at a Shreveport apartment complex.

Fingerprints and DNA evidence were recovered from the scene. Over the course of the investigation, a number of suspects were excluded and the case grew cold. However, in 2013, law enforcement received a tip that led to Sanders as a possible suspect. His fingerprints were matched to fingerprints found at the crime scene and DNA evidence recovered from underneath the victim’s fingernails was linked to the defendant.

Sanders, who has a prior 2013 conviction for simple burglary, will return March 12, 2018, to face Judge O’Callaghan for sentencing. His conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, probation or reduction of sentence.

Sanders was represented by Mary Harried. Prosecutors were Assistant District Attorney Mekisha Smith Creal and Bill Edwards.