Des Moines, Iowa ? The Iowa Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld the convictions of a carnival worker in the 2001 slayings of a Cresco woman and her daughter.

Clay Thomas, of Atchison, Kan., was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for strangling Angela Hyke, 25, and her 8-year-old daughter, Ashley Lucas, in July 2001. Their bodies were found more than a week later buried in a shallow grave in a state park near Thomas’ hometown.

In his appeal, Thomas said a lower court erred because it didn’t suppress his confession. Thomas said he had earlier asked for an attorney and had not waived his right to silence, but the appeals court noted that he initiated the conversation with investigators and “voluntarily sought to take full responsibility for the crime.”

He also claimed insufficient evidence and ineffective counsel. The appeals court rejected all three of his claims.