Mark Staples convicted in deaths of father, sister

(Updated)

Nearly 17 years after they went missing, the family of Bill Staples and Rhonda Borelli say they finally have closure.  After five days of deliberation, a jury found Mark Staples guilty of first degree murder in the deaths of his father and sister.

Carol Turner, Bill Staples niece:  “For 17 years, we have suffered so badly because of what happened to our family members and this is just, we’re just so happy that he was found guilty. He just destroyed our family by what he did.”

While family openly wept, Mark Staples showed no emotion as the jury announced he’s been found guilty of first degree murder in the 1998 deaths of his father Bill Staples, and sister Rhonda Borelli.

Outside the courthouse, smiles from family members who sat through the emotional eight week trial, including Bill’s niece Carol Turner: “It’s very painful, it never left our minds ever. It was there every day, all those years because we knew from the get-go that he was guilty and we are just so relieved now.

Rhonda Borelli and Bill Staples disappeared from their Binbrook farm in January 1998. Their bodies were found in the back of Bill’s pick-up at a Toronto park and fly lot six months later. Then the jury had heard Mark Staples was deeply in debt, and needed money to keep his golf club running. He inherited a million dollars from his father’s estate.

Borelli’s biological son William Swayze was only four years old at the time: “My adopted mother got a phone call from the police and I was crying for a week at least. Was a traumatic time for a four year old for sure.”

Staples received an automatic sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Swayze: “It’s really hard to explain just how good of a feeling it is to know that it’s over now. It’s incredible. It’s incredible.”

The judge called the murders heinous, violent and deliberate. There were no victim impact statements read during sentencing. Those will be filed as part of the future parole process. Staples’ lawyer declined to comment on behalf of his client.