INDIANAPOLIS — Orlando Mitchell has been found guilty of murdering the mother of his son outside an Indianapolis daycare in 2022. Jurors deliberated for a little more than an hour Wednesday morning, after hearing closing arguments from both sides in the trial.
On September 16, 2022, Krystal Walton was shot and killed in the parking lot of a west side daycare after dropping off her children. Walton had a protective order against Mitchell in place at the time, and had warned police she was afraid he would kill her.
WATCH: Family remembers Krystal Walton 1 year after she was killed
The jury also found Mitchell guilty of invasion of privacy.
During the three-day trial, jurors heard from daycare employees and a nearby business owner. They were also shown a video of Mitchell waiting outside the daycare for Walton, hiding behind a light pole while she took her children inside.
Following the shooting, police confronted Mitchell that same morning as he was reportedly armed with a rifle. Authorities stated that he refused commands to drop the weapon and pointed it at officers, prompting police to fire and wound Mitchell before taking him into custody.
The defense asked the jury for a conviction on voluntary manslaughter, arguing that Mitchell was acting in a "sudden heat."
Walton's family says they will give impact statements at Mitchell's sentencing.
"I'm going to call this justice for Krystal, phase one," Walton's father, Christopher Walton, told WRTV after the verdict.
This verdict comes as Mitchell faces further serious accusations, including the killing of a Marion County Sheriff's Office deputy while in custody.
Christopher Walton says the guilty verdict is indescribable and something they've been waiting on since 2022.
While the defense asked the jury for a conviction, they claimed Mitchell just snapped and was acting in sudden heat.
"We knew the outcome. We're jumping for joy on the inside, but at the same time, we're still trying to figure out why this, what we call due process, hurts so bad," Christopher Walton said. "I know she's overjoyed with the outcome. Unfortunately, she's not here, and we're doing this because of her."
Walton was a loving daughter, mother, sister, cousin, niece and friend.
"I love her, with all my heart, and I speak for everybody," Christopher Walton said.
Video of the moments leading up to the shooting was tough for the family to watch.
"I saw her getting out of the vehicle, walking to the school. I saw my granddaughter running and just her vibrant self. Then, I also got a chance to see my grandson, all three of them, together one last time. I didn't think about the other side of that and the devastation," he said.
In July 2023, while being transported from a medical appointment, Mitchell attacked Marion County Sheriff Deputy John Durm. He used his handcuffs to choke the deputy.
Then, he briefly got away in a transport van, before crashing outside of the jail.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said a guilty verdict for Walton's murder sets up the possibility for the death penalty in Durm's case.
"This case was important for a lot of reasons, it s important for the Walton family, but it was also important because it's related to the other case. One of the statutory aggravators that has been alleged is that there was a prior murder that had occurred, and certainly this is evidence that will be very helpful in being able to prove and demonstrate that. We are grateful for the verdict," Mears sad.
Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced for Walton's murder on April 1. He faces up to 45 to 65 years for the murder charge of Walton.
A pre-trial hearing is set in March in Deputy Durm's case.
