By Brenda Starkey
The Chronicle

     REPUBLIC - A Ravensdale man was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree arson and a firearms enhancement to the murder charge Tuesday, Feb. 16, after an eight-day trial in Ferry County Superior Court.
     The jury of seven women and five men took approximately six hours to return the verdict against Monaghan, 36, who was charged with killing Jeremy Karavias, 19, Kent, and burning the Art Creek Road home of Ron and Kathy Wessel to the ground Oct. 22, 2008.
     Monaghan, who gave a rambling testimony that stretched over two days, pleaded not guilty on the grounds of insanity.
     The jury heard law enforcement testimony, forensic evidence, eyewitnesses who interacted with Monaghan during his two-day visit at the Wessel home and testimony from four psychiatric specialists.
     Apparently the jury did not believe the defendant didn't understand the nature and quality of his acts or know that they were wrong - the measure of being legally criminally insane in Washington.
     Karavias and Wessel family members sat together on one side of the courtroom while three Monaghan supporters sat on the other side of the room.
     The Karavias family wore green ribbons to support Karavias, whose favorite color was green.
     Sentencing was set for 1:30 p.m. March 17, St. Patrick's Day.