HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The man charged in the beating death of a Huntington man last year was found guilty by a jury Friday.
A Cabell County jury convicted Edward “Jesse” Dreyfuse, 47, of first degree murder and burglary in the April 9, 2012, beating of Otis Clay Jr in Huntington.
The verdict was announced Friday morning before Cabell County Circuit Judge Paul T. Farrell.
Witnesses in the case alleged Dreyfuse broke into Clay’s home and used a baseball bat to repeatedly beat the 66-year-old victim. Clay would die days later of complications from the injuries he sustained in the attack.
Witnesses testified that Dreyfuse attacked Clay because he was outraged that a woman living at the residence sold him wax instead of $30 in actual crack cocaine.
The conviction carries a sentence of life in prison.
The same jury will meet again next Friday morning at 9 to testimony and arguments as to whether Dreyfuse will receive life in prison with or without mercy, which would determine his eligibility for parole.