A 27-year-old defendant was convicted of murder on Nov. 23 for the 2010 fatal stabbing of Bennett Bradley, a director and producer for the Fountain Theatre whose body was discovered inside his east Hollywood apartment.

A jury deliberated one-and-a-half days before finding Jose Fructuoso guilty of one count of second-degree murder, with the allegation that he personally used a knife, Deputy District Attorney Mario Haidar said.

Bradley was fatally stabbed on or about New Year’s Day, but his body was not discovered until Jan. 2 by co-workers after he failed to show up at work. The victim and Fructuoso, who lived a block from the victim, were acquaintances, according to Haidar.

Present in the courtroom when the verdict was read were Bradley’s brother, Michael Hill, a resident of Virginia; Fountain Theatre producing director Simon Levy; and co-artistic director Deborah Lawlor.

“All of us in the Fountain family are pleased and relieved by the verdict and grateful that the trial phase of this horrific nightmare is over,” Fountain Theatre co-artistic director Stephen Sachs said in a statement. “We thank Los Angeles District Attorney Mario Haidar and the team of detectives, led by Matthew Gares, who did such an excellent job on this case. Justice is done. But no matter the verdict or severity of the sentence, justice does not wield the power to bring Ben back to us.”

Bradley had been with the Fountain Theatre for over 17 years as a producer, director, and the director of audience development. Fructuoso is facing 16 years to life in prison when he returns to court on Jan. 3 for sentencing.