It’s been nearly three years since the gunshots shattered the quiet of a languid summer evening and a neighborhood faced the horror of a mother and two children murdered.
Tuesday, Circuit Court Judge R. Markley Dennis found Anthony Sanders guilty of the triple homicide and sentenced him to life in prison without parole.
“He will spend the rest of his life in prison, no parole, no appeals,” Jennings said. “The family of the victims is pleased, and obviously we are pleased.”
Sanders was arrested in August, 2007 for the murders of Diane Grant and two of her children, Jatavious Devore, 20,  and De’Anna Devore, 15. The three were found shot to death during the early morning hours of July 10, 2007, at Archdale Forest Apartments in unincorporated North Charleston. Grant and her son, Jatavious Devore were found in their apartment; De’Anna Devore was found outside behind a building partially clothed.
Two younger children were found inside the apartment asleep and unharmed the night of the murders.
Sanders appeared before Dennis Tuesday in a bench trial, First Circuit Assistant Solicitor Blair Jennings said.  Sanders waived all his rights to jury trial and post-conviction relief in exchange for the solicitor’s office not pursuing a death penalty trial, he said.