Two convicted in strangling of 73-year-old grandmother in Alpine

Two young drug addicts were convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder for the strangling and robbery of the 73-year-old grandmother of one of them.

Brandon Hayes, 29, and Jeffrey Reed, 22, were convicted in the El Cajon branch of San Diego County Superior Court in the death of Eunice Cothron, Hayes' grandmother.

The two robbed Cothron in her Alpine home, strangled her and stole her car, according to testimony.  She had filed a restraining order against Hayes in May 2009 after she suspected that he was stealing from her. A month later she was murdered.

Hayes and Reed drove to Tijuana and used the money for drugs and partying, prosecutors said. They face life in prison without parole when sentenced Oct. 18.

Separate juries deliberated for two days before delivering their verdicts.

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-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Brandon Hayes, left, and Jeffrey Reed. Credit: Fox-5 San Diego