SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A man has been found guilty in the first-degree murder of Mackenna Milhon who was stabbed back in 2019. This charge is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Lonnie Leroy Williams, now 33, of Springfield, was found guilty on Thursday, after taking Milhom to an isolated area just north of Springfield and stabbing her to death. She was found 10 days after being reported missing.

Williams’ girlfriend, Olivia Vega, 23, of Springfield, was also charged for tampering with evidence after the murder.

Following the death of Milhon, her family partnered up with the Stuhr Museum Foundation in Nebraska to launch an Alumni scholarship in her memory.

The grandfather of a Springfield teen murdered back in 2019 shared his reaction to a suspect in the case being found guilty.

“It’s a happy day,” said Mike. “It’s also a sad day because the man who did this ruined him and his family. Now that it’s done and happened, it does give you somewhat of an ending to this stage of our lives. It gives you the idea that the system works.”

The scholarship launched on January 1, 2021, which would have been Milhon’s 20th birthday.

Milhon was the first baby born in Springfield in this millennium.

“I’m going to let the state of Missouri via the court, the jury, the judge, make that decision and whatever it is, it is. The person that did this, he has to be held accountable and has to do the punishment which is brought forth,” said Mike. “She had a personality bigger than her size. She was a strong-willed, little red-headed, freckle-faced girl.”

Williams also was found guilty of Armed Criminal Action which carries a minimum sentence of three years and no maximum term of years.