It was along Interstate 10 in California that hikes found the remains of a wealthy Palm Springs widow in 1990.
Marie Darling, 78, had been brutally murdered and died from blunt force trauma.
Anthon Michael Kubica, who also goes by Anthony Kubica and Tony Kubica, and his late wife Connie Jo were suspects early on.
Connie Jo was Darling’s financial advisor and court documents show almost $185,000 was transferred out of Darling’s accounts just days before the body was found.
Felony murder charges were filed in 2014.
But investigators didn’t know where Anton Kubica was until a 2017 CHEK News story on a controversial Lake Cowichan land development.
Kubica fought extradition, unsuccessfully arguing too much time had passed.
In addition to bank records, investigators say they found a “plethora of evidence” at Kubica’s home in Scottsdale, Arizona, after the murder.
And while much of the evidence at the month-long trial was circumstantial, it took the jury less than two days to reach a guilty verdict.
The verdict shocked the defence and 63-year-old Kubica shook his head repeatedly after it was read.
But the prosecution says justice is finally served.
“I’ve done a lot of jury trials and your hearts pounding and you’re waiting for the jury’s decision and it was a big day for justice for the victim Marie Darling and I don’t want to not mention her because that is what this is all about,” says Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin.
A sentencing date has been set for January 10, 2020.
Tess van Straaten
