Man Believed To Be 'Gypsy Hill Killer' Convicted In 1976 Killing Of Teenagers

REDWOOD CITY (CBS SF/AP) -- A jury has found a career criminal who authorities believe to be the `Gypsy Hill Killer" guilty of killing two teenage girls.

The Redwood City jury returned its verdict Tuesday.

The trial began Sept. 7 with 69-year-old Rodney Halbower disrupting the prosecutor's opening statements by yelling at the jury that he was innocent and had never raped or killed. The judge declined public defender John Halley's call for a mistrial and Halbower ceased his outbursts.

Authorities believe Halbower raped and killed six young women over a five-month period in early 1976 in Northern California and Reno, Nevada.

DNA samples from cigarette butts led to Halbower's arrest in 2014. He was in an Oregon prison for attempted murder at the time.

Prosecutors said they charged him with the two murders with the strongest evidence.

Halbower could now face life in prison.

© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.