16-year-old Michael Pilato has been convicted of killing his father and two brothers by setting the family's Webster, New York home on fire, the Associated Press reported. A jury ruled that Pilato was guilty of arson and multiple counts of murder, concluding that he intended to kill his relatives on December 7, 2011 at 1 a.m. when he used gasoline to set fire to the home, which is located just northeast of Rochester.
The arson attack killed Carmen Pilato, who was 71, 16-year-old Peter Pilato and 12-year-old Joshua Pilato. Michael Pilato's mother and 13-year-old sister were also injured.
Pilato's defense lawyer argued that his client was experiencing "extreme emotional disturbance" at the time of setting the house ablaze.
Elaine, despite a surviving victim of the attack, supported her adopted son through the trial, and eyewitness saw she wept when the verdict was read, the AP also reported.
'He didn't do this on purpose,' she said. 'He's not a monster like [the district attorney]. She only called him by his name once. Once! He has a name.'
The woman hired defense attorneys who argued that Michael's biological mother was a crack addict and he struggled with physical and developmental problems from birth.
He contended became addicted to cocaine and prescription pills, and by age 14 was selling drugs. Even though his parents made repeated attempts to get him treatment, the boy had refused to stop smoking marijuana and dropped out of school.
Pilato also accused his parents, especially his adoptive father, of mistreating his brother Peter and sister Elizabeth.
When the sentence is due to begin on July 24, next month, Pilato face 7 ½ or 15 years to life.
