HOUSTON -- Jurors reached a guilty verdict Thursday in a capital murder trial in which the female victim was killed at a warehouse while running an errand for work, Local 2 reported.

Lamar Baskin Jr., 44, was charged with capital murder in the shooting and robbery of Laura Powell Higgins, 28. The interior designer was killed on Dec. 20, 2002, when she made a quick stop at a southeast Houston warehouse that was leased by her employer, Perry Homes.

Higgins' body was found near the warehouse and authorities said her purse and keys were missing.

Jurors began deliberations at noon and reached a verdict at about 3:45 p.m.

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Victim's Family Relieved At Verdict

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The punishment phase of the trial will begin Monday morning. Baskin faces the death penalty.

Higgins' family prayed in the courtroom before the verdict was read.

"Whether he sits and rots in jail or is put to death really is not up to me. I think that he'll get his punishment elsewhere," said Jennifer Baycot, Higgins' niece.

Family members said the trial was difficult and they are glad the worst of it is over.

"It was the second worst thing we've ever had to go through, definitely the first being the incident itself, losing one of our -- our very, very best friend," Baycot said.

On Monday, the victim's husband took the stand, while her family sat in the courtroom. Higgins also left behind a 20-month-old daughter, Sydney.

Baskin, who has a lengthy criminal past, was already in jail for an aggravated robbery case in 2002 when he was charged with the murder. He was also charged with rape in 2003 and has been convicted of robbery twice.

Investigators linked Baskin to Higgins' murder through ballistics tests performed on the murder weapon, officials said.

An acquaintance of Baskin told police that Baskin was at the warehouse the day of the murder.

Authorities believe Baskin is responsible for murdering, robbing and raping at least eight other people, but he has not been charged with those crimes.

The sentencing phase of the trial could take up to two weeks.