Jury Finds Nanny Guilty of Murder in Death of Two Young Children She Cared For

A nanny who argued she was too mentally ill to be held responsible for stabbing two children to death at their New York home has been convicted.

Yoselyn Ortega, 55, could face life in prison upon sentencing. She was found guilty of first degree and second degree murder for the deaths of 6-year-old Lucia Krim and 2-year-old Leo Krim, whom she stabbed more than 30 times and five times respectively.

The father of the slain children, as well as several of the jurors, choked back tears following the verdict.

One juror David Curtis, told reporters they carefully weighed the defense's claim that Ortega was severely mentally ill and thus, not aware of her actions. Ultimately the guilty verdict wasn't one they came to "lightly or easily," he said.

"There were some raised voices and a lot of tears," he said. "When we balanced the testimony of the experts on both sides...we could not find a strongly credible proof that the defendant was not aware and able to recognize what was going on."

Prosecutors asserted Ortega was angry with her workload and had meticulously plotted her attack. She intended to commit suicide after she killed the Krim children, according to the New York Times. She'd packed a bag full of momentos for her teenage son to find, as well as a collection of valuable documents for her sister.

Ortega's defense attorney tried to make the argument she was severely mentally ill and psychotic. Her lawyer said Ortega was hearing voices urging her to kill the children, and thus not aware or in control of her actions.

On Oct. 25, 2012, Marina Krim returned home to find her two of her children massacred in the bathroom. Ortega also slashed herself in the throat in a botched suicide, according to prosecutors.

Following the conviction Wednesday, District Attorney Cy Vance extended his sympathies to the children's family.

"Today, a jury rightly held Yoselyn Ortega accountable for the horrific slayings of Leo and Lulu Krim, and I thank the members of that jury for their diligence throughout this incredibly difficult and heartbreaking trial," Vance said.

Ortega's attorney didn't return a request for comment.