EDINBURG – A jury deliberated for more than seven hours the fate of a Rio Grande Valley woman accused of killing an elderly man.

Monica Melissa Patterson has been found guilty on all counts in the killing of 96-year-old Martin Knell by asphyxiation. He was found dead in his home in 2015.

She is convicted of capital murder along with theft, attempted theft and misuse of funds.

Authorities say Patterson was working at Casa de Consuelo Comfort House in McAllen at the time.

She was listed as a beneficiary in Knell’s estate.

The sentencing phase of the trial is set to begin Thursday morning. The sentence for a capital murder conviction is life in prison.