Glass found guilty in teenager's death

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A northeast Missouri man has been found guilty in the murder of a 13-year-old Hannibal girl.

Prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty for Travis Glass, 23, of Palmyra, following the first-degree murder verdict Wednesday by a jury in Columbia, where the case was heard on a change of venue.

Glass was convicted of killing Steffini Wilkins on May 25, 2001.

Robert Ahsens III, an assistant attorney general who helped prosecute the case, told jurors the death penalty was sought because the murder was "willful, wanton and violent and involved a sexual assault, before or after her death."

He also noted that Steffini had been kidnapped during the crime.

Steffini's body was found in an access area near the Salt River, south of Hannibal. Glass was arrested that same day.

Police Sgt. Mike Lawzano testified that Glass confessed that he wrapped the girl's bra strap around her throat and choked her to death. Lawzano also testified that Glass told him he said, "God forgive me for what I am about to do" before committing the crime.

Steffini was a seventh-grader at Hannibal Middle School, where she was a cheerleader and a member of the basketball team.

Testimony in the sentencing phase of the trial began Wednesday. Glass' sister, Tonya Gallaher, described her brother's close relationship with her two young children.

Defense attorney David Kenyon was attempting to show that the murder was "completely out of character" for Glass. Kenyon also said he would show that Glass was raised by his grandparents in a family with a history of alcoholism.