Man found guilty in Family Dollar store employee deaths

Lavere Bryant convicted of killing Brenna Machus, Joseph Orlando in 2013

Joe Orlando and Brenna Kathleen Machus

DEARBORN, Mich. – A man has been convicted of murder in the killings of two Dearborn Family Dollar store employees.

A jury on Monday returned their decision against Lavere Bryant, who had been on trial for the July 2013 deaths of Brenna Machus and Joseph Orlando.

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A convicted sex offender, Bryant was also charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder as well as armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment, felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearm charges. He sentencing is set for Dec. 11.

Orlando was found shot to death in the store. Machus' body was found in a wooded area less than 2 miles away.

Bryant has a criminal history that involves second-degree criminal sexual conduct and assault charges.

When Orlando and Machus were killed, Bryant still was listed on the sex offender registry as being in prison.