Jury in murder of Marine, wife, recommends death penalty for two of their killers

(CBS/AP) RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Riverside County jurors have recommended the death penalty for two of the three men convicted of killing a Camp Pendleton Marine sergeant and his wife in 2008.

Prosecutors say jurors returned death sentences for 25-year-old Tyrone Miller and 23-year-old Emrys John on Thursday.

Along with 25-year-old Kevin Cox, the three ex-Marines were convicted of murder earlier this month.

Jurors recommended Cox serve life without possibility of parole.

The trio went to the French Valley home of Sgt. Jan Pietrzak to rob him in 2008. They attacked him and sexually assaulted his wife before killing the newlyweds.

All three had worked with Pietrzak at one time while they were stationed at Camp Pendleton.

CBS Los Angeles reports Cox told investigators he rang the doorbell twice around 1 a.m. Pietrzak deactivated the alarm and came to the door. The armed defendants beat the sergeant into submission, then raped his 26-year-old wife, according to Deputy District Attorney Daniel DeLimon.

DeLimon reportedly said John proceeded to shoot both victims execution-style with a 9mm handgun.

According to the station, Miller testified that he was displeased with the sergeant because he told him that his chances of being promoted were nil.

A fourth man, 25-year-old Kesaun Kedron Sykes, is awaiting trial.

Complete coverage of the Jan Pietrzak case on Crimesider