Perris man convicted of killing wife, her 6-year-old daughter

A Perris man was convicted Friday of strangling his wife and her daughter, authorities said.

A Riverside County jury found Michael Barbar, 55, guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for strangling his wife and her 6-year-old daughter, then repeatedly slamming the daughter's head into a bedpost.

Authorities said Barbar had become suspicious about whether the girl, Tamara Barbar, was biologically his. According to investigators, Barbar took Tamara to a fast-food restaurant, where he ran a swab along the inside of her mouth.

Eight days after the results came back, the body of the girl and her mother, Maysam Barbar, were found.

Authorities caught Barbar in New Mexico and found a gun, cash and several passports on him. He also had directions to a place in Texas where the man he believed had had an affair with his wife lived.

Next week, the jury will hear additional testimony before deciding whether Barbar should get the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

ALSO:

Glendale bear returns for poolside escape from the heat

Huge shipment of fake Pokemon cards seized at L.A. port, destroyed

L.A. County rail lines to run later on Friday and Saturday nights

-- Weston Phippen