LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville man who was just found guilty of double murder Wednesday was featured in an Instagram video from jail Friday.
Lawless is seen making his hands into a heart and holding it up to his chest, and the person recording says they'll show it to his family.
I love ya’ll, be home soon,” he said in the video. “See ya’ll soon, man.”
The jury found Lawless guilty of murdering Brandon Waddles and his 3-year-old daughter Trinity Randolph Wednesday night. They also found him guilty of burglary.
They recommended he serve two life sentences without parole.
"I think that's a big deal to even make that ask, but I make it, and I make it on behalf of everybody who loved Trinity and Brandon," prosecutor Ryane Conroy said Thursday.
Becky Waddles, Brandon's mother and Randolph's grandmother, said she hadn't heard of these Instagram posts, but said she knew it was common throughout the trial.
"The day before the guilty or whatever he had posted on Instagram. 'Every time I turn around, I see who's there for me,'" Waddles said.
During the trial Waddle's mother recounted the events of that night.
"They shot up the outside of the house so I'm thinking they are still okay, but then I called Brandon's phone and he wasn't answering," Waddles said in court.
She said after Lawless was given two life sentences, she felt more should have been done.
"He probably should get the death penalty. I wanted death because you took a life. Your life should be taken," Waddles said.
Lawless appears to have been speaking with an unknown visitor who took a recording of Lawless seemingly after his sentencing yesterday. We don't know when it was recorded, but it was posted the day after he learned the recommended sentence from a jury.
Lawless in his caption appears to be telling those he loves he will see them soon, however, Metro Corrections (LMDC) confirmed he is still in custody and that it is normal sometimes for others to post on incarcerated people's social media accounts.
Waddles said the night she found out about her son and granddaughter's death is one that she'll always think about.
"I'm like,' What is going on? What, what?' They said the police is running down the street with Trinity. And she's bleeding," Waddles said.
In the end, she had a message about today's rising violence and the way arguments are being settled.
"They're still doing all of this and killing over, over Instagram and Facebook it's just sad," Waddles said.
Before deliberating, one juror had to leave because she heard that one of the key witnesses - Evan Ross - had been arrested for perjury after his testimony, and couldn't base her decision solely on the evidence provided during the trial.
The judge will formally sentence Lawless Nov. 3.
The video appears to be on Instagram after being taken down for some time.
WHAS11 spoke with Maj. Darrell Goodlett at LMDC and he said this video appears to be in one of their visitation booths, usually only for attorneys and pastors to visit incarcerated people, not the general public.
He can't confirm who took the video but said phones are allowed only for business purposes. He said this type of video was too personal and they will be investigating.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.