MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Monongalia County jury has found a Morgantown man guilty of first degree murder.
The jury found Joseph Nevera, 52, killed his girlfriend Kimberly Osborne in May 2024.
The 12-member panel deliberated the case for about two-and-a-half hours Tuesday afternoon before returning the guilty verdict.
The mercy phase of the trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Testimony during the trial showed Nevera and Osborne had a violent relationship over a period of years. The trial included testimony for friends, and her mother detailing the abuse. Jurors twice heard from Osborne through bodycam footage collected during domestic violence investigations of Nevera.
A key witness in the case, John Clayburn, was the victim of an arson following his testimony in the trial. His camper that is on property owned by Nevera was set on fire after he told the jury Nevera admitted to the killing and showed him the body.
Osborne’s body was found in a shallow grave outside of Morgantown.
This story will be updated.