ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — There were tense and descriptive moments in a Pinellas County courtroom Wednesday as opening statements began in the sentencing phase for Shelby Nealy.

Nealy is facing the death penalty for the 2018 murders of his ex-wife’s mom, dad, and brother. State prosecutors painted a graphic scene of the murders of members of the Ivancic family.

“This defendant all along had been planning to murder everyone in that house. So while Richard is walking in the house in the dining room area toward the kitchen, armed with a hammer attacks him,” said State Attorney Bryan Sarabia.

In January 2019, Nealy was arrested in Ohio after police caught up with him in a stolen car out of Tarpon Springs.

The bodies of Richard Ivancic, Laura Ivancic, and Nicholas Ivancic, along with the family’s three dogs, were discovered in their Tarpon Springs home on New Year’s Eve.

A week later, police discovered the body of Nealy’s ex-wife, Jamie Ivancic, near a Port Richey home. Nealy’s defense team reserved their opening statement and proceeded to call four witnesses today.

The sentencing phase of Nealy’s trial is expected to last a week.