John Wilson Jr. guilty in Kelli O'Laughlin stabbing death, to be sentenced

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (WLS) -- John Wilson Jr. was convicted on Monday of fatally stabbing Kelli O'Laughlin, 14, in her Indian Head Park home in 2011.

A Cook County jury deliberated for two hours before delivering a guilty verdict.

In an exclusive interview, Brenda and John O'Laughlin sat down with ABC7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ben Bradley after the jury found Wilson guilty on all counts.

She found her daughter dead on the kitchen floor with a knife near her body three years ago.

"No family should have to go through what we went through. Or a child, what she went through," Brenda O'Laughlin said. "It was horrific."

Prosecutors said Kelli O'Laughlin had interrupted Wilson as he burglarized the family's home. Investigators found his DNA at the scene. GPS data from the girl's stolen cell phone also linked him to the crime.

"I think the facts speak for themselves. I don't think anyone could not get emotional listening to the facts," Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Guy Lisuzzo said.

In arguing for Wilson's innocence, the defense suggested the teen's death was a suicide, not murder. They also argued racism played a role.

"If they reached a verdict that quickly, then it must be guilty - guilty on all charges because they didn't have anything to talk about," John O'Laughlin said. "I was quite happy, actually. She was nervous. She was shaking. I was actually quite happy."

Wilson is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 10.