Springfield resident Kenneth Bell has been found guilty of first degree murder in the 2010 killing of 61 year old Pauline Cormier.
Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser says Bell, who represented himself, lived just around the corner from Cormier.
"She had given him a few dollars to let him do yard work," says Milhiser. "He was addicted to crack cocaine, was on a crack binge, went to her house, and brutally brutally murdered her."
Bell stabbed Cormier, a St. John's hospice nurse, at least 100 times. In addition to first degree murder, Bell was found guilty of residential burglary. He faces between 20 and 60 years in prison, and has a sentencing date set for March 20.
(posted 6:10 p.m. 02/08/2013 by Alex Degman)