ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- After deliberating for less than two hours, a Chemung County court jury has returned a guilty verdict for the man accused of being the kingpin in a brutal torture and murder case in 2021.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty on both charges of 1st degree murder, and 1st degree kidnapping against Eddie Marte. During a trial that lasted less than two weeks, the Chemung County District Attorney portrayed as the ringleader of four defendants accused of torturing Juan Jose Gotay at various locations in Elmira in January of 2021.

Gotay's body was found in a remote area of Potter County, Pennsylvania, bound and mutilated in April of 2021.

Marte's co-defendants in the case took the stand against him, detailing their actions the night of Gotay's assault, saying Marte ordered them on what to do to Gotay. Thomas Bovaird, Malik Weems, and Kavon Sanders have all pleaded guilty to lesser charges for their roles in the case, and are awaiting sentencing. 

Chemung County District Attorney Weeden Wetmore spoke to WENY News after the sentencing, saying the prosecution "Relieved the jury arrived at a verdict so swiftly, and obviously this is one of the more heinous crimes committed in Chemung County. There are no winners in this case, not only did the defendant take the life of Jose Gotay, he ruined the lives of the three young co-defendants, who although willingly committing the crime with him and for him, probably would've never found themselves in such dire straits. But for his influence, one of the witnesses said the young men all wanted to be like Gordo [Marte]. Everybody wanted to have money and respect."

"The police work in this case was excellent. Although counsel suggested that there was other evidence that could've been pursued such as cellphone extractions, what we knew is that Marte and all of these young men were constantly changing their phones. And thus, making it impossible to get that evidence. Marte did give a statement to NYSP Senior Investigator Matt Lambert, which we chose not to offer. In a statement when questioned in Geneva about committing a crime in Elmira, he asked 'Where's Elmira?' Then, after giving conflicting versions of where the crime may have occurred, he continued to maintain his ignorance of what had taken place. However, he finally did advise NYSP Senior Investigator Lambert that he had driven that night of the crime to Pennsylvania where the body was tossed over a guide rail. However, his version was that he drove his car with A1 as a passenger, while Thomas Bovaird who only had one light followed (Marte) with the victim in Bovaird's car, along with Weems and Sanders and made the decision of where to toss the body. Interestingly, in a letter Marte wrote to his co-defendant Malik Weems, he told him to stick with the story that Malik was riding with him and that they had been coerced to drive to Pennsylvania. I chose not to put in that proof because I didn't want to put in any purported defense on his part. I would've preferred if he were to offer that excuse for his actions that they come from him on the witness stand where I can cross-examine him," Wetmore said.

The jury began deliberating at approximately 2:53PM Monday, and returned the guilty verdict at approximately 4:30PM.

Wetmore explained he will be seeking the maximum sentence, which is life without parole.  Marte is scheduled to be sentenced on July 12th.