Mass. man guilty of killing LDS wife, stepson

WOBURN, Mass. — A man was convicted of first-degree murder Tuesday for killing

his wife and 11-year-old stepson out of anger over the time she spent with

members of her church.

The jury found Jeremias Bins guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for

the 2006 slayings. Superior Court Judge John Lu sentenced Bins to two

consecutive life terms in prison.

Prosecutors said a bloodied Bins took a cab to the Framingham police station

in May 2006, walked in and said he had just bludgeoned his wife and stepson with

a hammer. He handed the couple's 5-month-old son, Phillipe, to officers and

said, "I'm sorry."

Carla Souza, 37, and her elder son Caique had been found an hour earlier by

police who responded to her 911 call.

Souza was an active member of the Framingham Ward of The Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints. About two hours before the killings, Bins called

ward members and told them he did not want "you missionaries" at his home any

more.

Some LDS Church members told police they knew Bins did not support his wife's

involvement but they were stunned by the killings. The couple had met through

the church when Bins, a native of Brazil, started taking English classes there.

Souza, also from Brazil, helped teach the classes

Bins occasionally attended Mormon services with his wife but he did not become a

member.