GALENA, Ill. -- Adonnis Hill said he didn't bother to glance in David Damm's direction after an Illinois jury found Damm guilty of murdering his daughter Thursday.

"No reason to look at him. I looked at him for the last two years," he said.

David Damm was found guilty on all counts in the murder of Donnisha Hill Thursday afternoon after one hour and 40 minutes of jury delibrations.

Damm, 60, of Waterloo, was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated kidnapping in connection with the death of Hill, 13, of Waterloo two years ago.

The conviction means the case will continue to the eligibility phase, where the panel will determine if it meets the criteria for the death penalty.

"We are very pleased with the verdict. We believe justice was served, and we look forward to the next stage," said Jo Daviess County States Attorney Terry Kurt.

Jurors began deliberations at 3:10 p.m. Thursday.

Damm was accused of hiring Bruce Burt to kill Hill to keep her from testifying in a sexual abuse investigation.

Burt, who testified for prosecutors as part of a plea deal, admitted he drove the girl to Illinois and beat her to death with a hammer and said Damm paid him a $2,000 installment of a $5,000 agreement to do it.

Damm's attorneys said murder was never part of the plan. They said Damm wanted to help the girl run away, and Burt killed her on his own after she resisted his sexual advances.

The state and defense delivered their closing arguments before breaking for lunch. The state will start its rebuttal arguments this afternoon.

Prosecutor Steven Nate with the Illinois Attorney General's office said even though Damm didn't swing the hammer, he is still accountable for Hill's death

"You can put his hand right on that handle as well," Nate said. He said Damm is accountable because he asked Burt to carry out the crime, agreed to pay him for it, delivered the girl to Burt and provided money for gas, and for a camera to prove the murder had been carried out.

"He's bankrolling the whole operation … he's the one calling all the shots. … He planned it. He paid for it. He executed it," Nate said.

Nate said jurors not only got to see the weapon that killed Donnisha Hill, they got to hear the weapon speak when Burt took the stand.

Defense attorney Stephen Richards started his closings.

"Bruce Burt is not a murder weapon. He is a murderer," Richards said. "And he murdered Donnisha Hill for his own reasons … because when he tried to seduce or rape her, she fought."

Although Damm may be morally responsible for arranging to have Burt help Hill run away, Damm isn't guilty of a crime, Richards said.

"David Damm is not guilty of first-degree murder. He is innocent," Richard said.

Richards said Burt's account can't be believed because of the deal he struck with prosecutors to avoid death row. He said it was like putting a gun to someone's head and saying do what we want or we'll pull the trigger.

During this phase of the trial, jurors will consider guilt, but not punishment. If convicted of first-degree murder Damm could face the death penalty. Jurors will decide punishment following further proceedings.

Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or Jeff.Reinitz@wcfcourier.com