Rotterdam man convicted of murder in deaths of mother, stepfather

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Rotterdam man was found guilty of stabbing and killing his mother and stepfather in 2023. Anthony Lewis Jr, 32, faces a prison sentence of up to life without parole upon sentencing, per the Schenectady County District Attorney's Office.

Charges

• Two counts of first-degree murder
• First-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle
• Fourth-degree grand larceny

Lewis was accused of killing his mother, Cathy Ayala-Guillaume, and stepfather, Robert Guillaume, on July 4, 2023 and lingering in the home until about 11:30 p.m. on July 5, 2023. The DA's Office said he then stole Mr. Guillaume's car and traveled to Pennsylvania where he was involved in a single-vehicle crash.

Rotterdam Police discovered the bodies of the deceased on July 7, 2023 when responding to a welfare check. Lewis was then taken into custody in Pennsylvania before being extradited on murder charges in Schenectady County.

Police conducted a homicide investigation in which multiple murder weapons, clothing, and more than 100 DNA swabs were collected. The DA's Office said the State Police's Forensic Investigation Center in Albany ultimately matched Lewis' DNA to the connected evidence.

Phone records and cell tower data also showed that he was in all relevant locations at times that implicated him in the crimes. License plate readers also corroborated Lewis' movement after the homicides. Police also said that two people known to Lewis said he admitted to killing his mother and stepfather on the phone after being taken into custody.

The defendant admitted to a jury in court that he stabbed his mother and stepfather to death. He said he felt entitled to kill them bother "under the direction of God," per the DA's Office.

The jury deliberated for a half hour before convicting him. Lewis will be sentenced on July 9.