Marcus Randle El, a former wide receiver at Wisconsin and Thornton, is convicted of a 2020 double homicide

JANESVILLE, Wis. — A former University of Wisconsin football player was convicted of two counts of first-degree homicide and other charges Tuesday in the February 2020 shooting deaths of two women.

Jurors deliberated about two hours before finding Marcus Randle El guilty in the slayings of 27-year-old Brittany McAdory and 30-year-old Seairaha Winchester.

Randle El, from Homewood, attended Thornton Township High School in Harvey before going to Wisconsin, where he was a wide receiver for the Badgers from 2004 to 2007.

He also was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of operating a vehicle without consent while possessing a weapon.

Prosecutors argued that Randle El suspected Winchester was informing police of his drug dealing and that he killed McAdory to eliminate her as a witness.

Investigators said that while they did not have a murder weapon directly linking Randle El to the slayings, surveillance footage and text messages tied him to the crimes.

The defense argued the state did not meet its burden of proof and called just two witnesses. Randle El declined to testify in his defense.

The defendant’s brother, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, wore a pained look on his face as the Rock County jury returned the verdict. Antwaan Randle El, a three-sport star at Thornton and the 2001 Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner at Indiana, is now the Detroit Lions wide receivers coach.

Sentencing has been scheduled for May 3.