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An Illinois crime scene investigator told jurors it appeared the killer drove around the gate of a rural Jo Daviess County property before he killed Donnisha Hill and left her body. The gate has been changed since the October 2006 slaying, and the new one is pictured. (Jeff Reinitz/Courier staff writer)
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Note from school, bloody newspaper at murder scene helped identify girl
By JEFF REINITZ, Courier Staff Writer
GALENA, Ill. --- When Illinois law officers found the body of a girl in the weeds of a driveway off Rodden Road, it didn't take long to determine who the victim was.
Donnisha Hill, 13, didn't have any identification or money on her body when she was found Oct. 28, 2006.
But there was a torn-up note in her pocket, said Keith Carlbom, a crime scene investigator with the Illinois State Police. He pieced it back together and determined it was a notice for a parent/teacher conference at Logan Middle School.
Within a matter of feet from the body was a copy of the Oct. 27, 2006, Courier newspaper from Waterloo. It was spattered with blood.
It included pages B1 through B4, and on the last page, someone had scribbled in some of the answers to the word scramble game, Carlbom said.
A voice recorder from a Spy Kids kit was found in the left pocket of her jacket, he said. He said he tried to play the device but it didn't work.
The tubular steel gate to the long gravel driveway where she was found was apparently closed at the time of the crime.
"It appeared ... as if someone had driven around the gate to enter the drive," Carlbom said, noting they found tire tracks and recorded the print left behind.
He pointed to notes on a computerized map of the scene, describing how the body was found just inside the weeds about 20 feet from the north edge of the drive.
Her hairpiece dangled from a tree branch. Blood marked the ground below. A long kitchen knife with a forked point wasn't too far off.
Four bone fragments were found in the grass, Carlbom said. Earlier Bruce Burt told jurors he had hit Donnisha in the head with a hammer and cut her neck. He then dragged her a short distance and fled.
Burt's Marshall Fields cap was found on the south side of the drive.
Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or Jeff.Reinitz@wcfcourier.com
Donnisha Hill, 13, didn't have any identification or money on her body when she was found Oct. 28, 2006.
But there was a torn-up note in her pocket, said Keith Carlbom, a crime scene investigator with the Illinois State Police. He pieced it back together and determined it was a notice for a parent/teacher conference at Logan Middle School.
Within a matter of feet from the body was a copy of the Oct. 27, 2006, Courier newspaper from Waterloo. It was spattered with blood.
It included pages B1 through B4, and on the last page, someone had scribbled in some of the answers to the word scramble game, Carlbom said.
A voice recorder from a Spy Kids kit was found in the left pocket of her jacket, he said. He said he tried to play the device but it didn't work.
The tubular steel gate to the long gravel driveway where she was found was apparently closed at the time of the crime.
"It appeared ... as if someone had driven around the gate to enter the drive," Carlbom said, noting they found tire tracks and recorded the print left behind.
He pointed to notes on a computerized map of the scene, describing how the body was found just inside the weeds about 20 feet from the north edge of the drive.
Her hairpiece dangled from a tree branch. Blood marked the ground below. A long kitchen knife with a forked point wasn't too far off.
Four bone fragments were found in the grass, Carlbom said. Earlier Bruce Burt told jurors he had hit Donnisha in the head with a hammer and cut her neck. He then dragged her a short distance and fled.
Burt's Marshall Fields cap was found on the south side of the drive.
Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or Jeff.Reinitz@wcfcourier.com
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mystical wrote on Sep 30, 2008 1:02 PM:
" I truly hope justice is served in this case. The little girl did not deserve to die. The two criminals involved here should be hung out to dry. I just hope and pray this girl's family get the justice and peace they deserve. I feel so sad for her mother & father to have to read of her death like this in the paper. It has to be anguishing to know that the courier can write this stuff about their little girl. Yeah the public has a right to know about the trial and what is happening. But, as a mother it makes me downright ball to be reading a story like this. I pray everyday that the justice system will not let this girl's family down. Sounds like they have already been let down once before in protecting the girl to begin with. My thoughts with the family and prays are with you as well. "
purplecat wrote on Sep 30, 2008 3:35 PM:
" This was such a heartless, cold-blooded crime that it's difficult to even read about it. My heart goes out to the family and friends of Donnisha. However, I don't understand the comment by Mystical who says that "the family has been let down once before in protecting the girl to begin with." Her school bus route was changed, and the napkin from Damm was being analyzed by the police. I'm sure David Damm knew that charges would be filed as soon as those results came in. But besides personally escorting this girl to her classroom and home again, and then locking her in her room until the next morning, how else were people suppose to protect her? If she was determined to meet up with this pervert, she would sneak around and find a way. Why do we always have to blame someone? The only people to blame are Mr. Damm and Mr. Burt. "
oklynn08 wrote on Sep 30, 2008 4:32 PM:
" whats amazing to me is the police officer, who knew burt didn't have a license but was driving to deliver newspapers, and then saw him that night getting gas in a car he KNEW he was supposed to be driving due to lack of having a license, yet didn't take the time to question him. If i where her parents i would want some questions answered as to why not. and as far as the kleenex being examined, damm and burt are well known on the east side of town, and the character of who they are is well known, they have been convicts for years, but some how always get a slap on the hand, well until now for damm but as far as burt what is the rest of his life in prison to him, nothing, he is 60 years old and has spent more time in prison then out of prison his entire life, they both make me sick. "
mystical wrote on Oct 1, 2008 8:20 AM:
" I was referring to the bus driver who knew she was no longer to be allowed on the route that took her close to Damm and yet the driver did what??? Took her on the route and let her get off to where she would be in close connection with Damm. I don't blame a soul here, we all know Damm & Burt are to blame. And the a sick individuals who deserve harsh punishment and they don't deserve life in prison. I agree for Burt it would be nothing and come on Damm don't deserve it either. They both need to pay for what they did to the little girl. They are both sick twisted men, I know Damm from when I was in high school and dated a family member of his. Didn't take me long to realize the apple don't fall far from the tree and the whole family are sick twisted you know what's!!!! All I care about is seeing justice done for this family of Donnisha's. She didn't deserve this and her parents don't deserve not to see their litle girl grow up and become something wonderful. My thoughts and prays are with the family. "
CINDIKV wrote on Oct 1, 2008 12:08 PM:
" I can only imagine what it must be like for Donnisha's family to sit in court and hear every detail of their daughter's murder, let alone sit in the same room as the two worthless men who are responsible. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with Donnisha's family and friends. "
midas wrote on Oct 2, 2008 3:14 PM:
" I certainly can't imagine what happens to a person to allow them to become so sick as to commit a crime like this either. If guilty they deserve nothing less tha what they handed down to that poor girl. Like one reader before me, i take issue with comments made by mystical. your remark about the whole family being sick and twisted is beyond out of line. I also know them very well, and they are very well respected people. Don't drag them through the mud just because you think you can remember an experience from 40 years ago that may not set well with you. I would think you would be more adult by now than to let an adolesent "dating" memory tarnish the reputation of good people. "
CINDR wrote on Oct 20, 2008 2:01 AM:
" Sometimes the truth of reality gets very ugly. I find this story very triggering. The blame is to be put on the abusers, perpetrators, and predators and not Donnisha Hill. Like many victims/targets they do not realize what fear, terror, and tragedies await them. As the truth comes to the fore front many people are not going to like what they hear or believe what they hear.
It is illegal for anyone to tamper with a victim/witness/"Victim of Violent Crime". Many times it is done at all levels including the family of the abuser/perpetrator/predator and those from different walks of life. For those who feel they know just how to commit the perfect crime they are just as guilty as the man who hit Donnisha with the hammer and he who paid him to do the job. "
It is illegal for anyone to tamper with a victim/witness/"Victim of Violent Crime". Many times it is done at all levels including the family of the abuser/perpetrator/predator and those from different walks of life. For those who feel they know just how to commit the perfect crime they are just as guilty as the man who hit Donnisha with the hammer and he who paid him to do the job. "
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jelloshot202 wrote on Sep 30, 2008 12:42 PM: