Defense argues Dr. Anthony Garcia should be spared the death penalty because of severe mental illness and 'profound burden of failure' in death penalty sentencing hearing

Douglas County Sheriff's deputies wheel in Anthony Garcia, who doesn't
seem to be faking having mental illness, for his death penalty hearing

The much-anticipated and long-delayed death penalty phase for convicted "Creighton killer" Dr. Anthony Garcia finally began Wednesday morning to determine whether he will get the death penalty or spend the rest of his natural life in prison.

Garcia was convicted for two sets of double murders last October with aggravating circumstances that qualified for death penalty consideration under Nebraska law.

In 2008, he broke into the Dundee home of his former boss, then Creighton University Medical Center pathology residency director Dr. William Hunter, and stabbed to death Dr. Hunter's 11-year-old son, Thomas, and the family's housekeeper, Shirlee Sherman, while Dr. Hunter was still at work.

Then in 2013 five years later, he broke into his other former boss' home, then Creighton University Medical Center pathology department chairman Dr. Roger Brumback, and stabbed to death Dr. Brumback and his wife Mary.

All four murders were thought to be motivated by revenge for Dr. Garcia's dismissal from the Creighton University Medical Center pathology residency program back in 2001.