Double Murder, Double Guilty: Court Rejects Miguelito’s Story

Two lives lost. One man now convicted. After hearing all the evidence, Justice Candace Nanton found Miguelito Encalada guilty of murdering his wife, Desiree Gonzalez, and his brother, George Rochester, both shot in broad daylight in Ladyville in April 2023. Encalada claimed gunmen invaded his business, killed his family, and spared him. But the court rejected that story. Key evidence tied the murders to his licensed firearm, and within minutes of delivering her decision, Justice Nanton handed down two guilty verdicts. Families from both sides packed the courtroom, reacting quietly as the decision was read. Sentencing is set for July 2026, with multiple reports ordered as the court considers the possibility of a capital punishment case.