Judge declares mistrial in murder trial

The trial for a former Florence businessman suspected of murdering a Fowler man has been declared a mistrial.

After about 11 hours of deliberation, the jury told Otero County Chief Judge Mark MacDonnell they didn’t think they could come to a consensus on Monday.

Anthony Wright told the jury Thursday that he and victim Byron Griffy had a relationship that mostly involved business.

The Canon City Daily Record reports Wright was arrested in 2013 and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in Griffy’s death.

Griffy was found shot to death in his Fowler home in 2012.

Authorities say Wright knew Griffy through the funeral home business.