SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A Springfield man was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a 19-year-old woman in 2019.
Lonnie Williams, 33, was found guilty of taking Mackenna Milhon to a secluded area north of Springfield and stabbing her more than a dozen times in December 2019. Her body was found 10 days after she went missing.
Williams’ attorney, David Back, said in closing arguments that Williams killed Milhon but contended that it happened during a physical altercation and was not premediated. He asked the jury to convict Williams of voluntary manslaughter, The Springfield News-Leader reported.
Prosecutors noted that Williams chased Milhon had time to reflect on what he was doing when she tried to run away and while he stabbed her more than a dozen times.
Williams’ now-ex-girlfriend, Olivia Vega, pleaded guilty to evidence tampering in the case. She admitted that she helped Williams try to hide or destroy evidence after the murder.
