By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Jeff Steen will spend the rest of his life in prison after Rowan County jurors found him guilty of the 2013 robbery and first-degree murder of his 87-year-old grandfather, J.D. Furr,  and the attempted murder of his mother, Sandra Steen.

During deliberations that started Monday, jurors asked to see pieces of evidence and at times were deadlocked. But, just before 11 a.m. today, a unanimous decision was reached.

One by one, jurors were asked whether they stood by their verdict, to which all 12 said they did.

Judge Nathaniel Poovey is expected to sentence Steen, 43, later in the afternoon.

Sandra Steen spoke very briefly before the lunch break, saying it was difficult to sit in court for three and a half weeks, but that it was the result of her son’s choice.

“Justice for Daddy has been served now. It’s been three and half weeks of reliving Nov. 5 over and over every day, and I’m just real tired and I’m ready to moved on now,” she said.

Rowan County investigators said Jeff Steen beat his grandfather with a potato hoe, emptied Furr’s wallet and then attacked mother Sandra Steen by using a martial arts choking maneuver on her and leaving her for dead.

Sandra Steen survived, going in and out of consciousness all night. She tried to crawl back to the house but never really got far.

She called out to her father, but investigators said J.D. Furr was already dead.

During the trial, testimony showed Jeff Steen would likely inherit his grandfather’s Richfield farm upon the death of Furr and Sandra Steen. Jeff Steen also owed them both money. He was behind on his car payments, his car insurance had lapsed and he owed back taxes.

Sandra Steen said it she was glad the trial was over.

When a reporter asked if it was hard because her son was heading to prison for her attempted murder and her father’s death, Sandra Steen said her son forgot on Nov. 5 that she was his mother when he tried to kill her.

“We all make choices and he made a choice that he’s got to live with,” she said.

See Thursday’s Post for more details.