GALENA, Ill. - The father of a 13-year-old homicide victim said he will continue making the almost two-hour trip from Waterloo to Galena, where the men accused in his daughter's death are being tried.

"Everything surrounding her death is worth the drive," he said.

Adonnis Hill drove to Galena on Thursday for the status hearing of Bruce Burt, the man accused of killing Hill's Daughter, Donnisha Hill.

On Friday, he made the trip again, this time to see the man prosecutors claim hired Burt to kill his daughter.

Prosecutors allege David Damm wanted Hill dead to prevent her from testifying against him in a potential criminal case, in which he would be tried for sexually abusing her.

Burt's hearing lasted less than five minutes and confirmed he would enter a guilty plea on Nov. 7, in return for his truthful testimony against Damm.

Friday's hearing lasted only 10 minutes.

Attorneys discussed decisions made in a closed two-hour session. The state said that it learned of defense witnesses who will not be testifying. They also discussed how evidence would be transferred from Waterloo to Chicago, as defense experts need to examine a napkin with physical evidence.

Although the information provided is brief, Hill said it serves its purpose.

"We come up here to see that the path to justice is being paved," he said. "We loved our daughter. That's the biggest reason to make the drive."

Hill attended the hearing with Donnisha's mother, Leneaka Johnson, also of Waterloo. Donnisha's uncle and his fiancee also made the trip.

"I can't compare it to sending a child off to college and checking up on them, but it's part of sticking by them through thick and thin," he said. "And this is definitely thick."

Damm's trial is set for Sept. 15 and, if convicted, he would face the death penalty. However, he would not be executed until Illinois lifts its moratorium on the death penalty. The state initially sought the death penalty for both Damm and Burt, but will accept life in prison for Burt if he testifies truthfully against Damm.

Another hearing is scheduled for Damm at 1 p.m., Aug. 13.

Jo Daviess County Sheriff officials discovered Hill's body in rural Hanover on Oct. 28, 2006, a day after her family reported her missing.

Court documents allege that Damm hired Burt to murder Hill and that the men convinced her to go somewhere with the intention to confine her against her will and cut her throat.

On Oct. 27, the documents say, Burt obtained a hammer and knife with intent to murder the girl.