Father hopes for closure with guilty verdict for daughter's kidnapper

Keith Elson Jr. will spend the rest of his life in prison without parole for the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 20-year-old convenience store clerk last year.

Elson, 56, was found guilty of first-degree kidnapping Friday by Sixth Judicial District Judge Ian Thornhill. Elson kidnapped and sexually assaulted Amanda Daniel, then 19, May 17, 2010.

Elson had a four day bench, non-jury, trial Oct. 24-27.

Sentencing is set for 11 a.m. Dec. 16 in Linn County District Court. Elson faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

"We never had any doubts (about the verdict)," Mark Daniel, Amanda's father, told reporters after the hearing. "The evidence was there right from the beginning with the video (surveillance). I don't think satisfied is the right word. We're happy the way it turned out. True satisfaction would have been if it never happened."

Thornhill read his detailed ruling to a courtroom packed with family and friends of Daniel. Elson also had family and friends at the hearing.

Daniel and some other family members left the courtroom when Thornhill went over details of the sexual assault.

Elson looked down while Thornhill read his ruling.

Thornhill said the state met its burden of proof for the elements of first-degree kidnapping, and while the defense experts were credible, their testimony didn't negate the facts, which showed Elson "had the ability to form specific intent to commit the crime."

Specific intent, according to the law, means Elson had the mental ability to knowingly or intended to commit the act, which is an element of the first-degree kidnapping charge.

During the trial, defense experts claimed Elson was heavily intoxicated with a .216 blood alcohol content and he suffered from anxiety and major depressive disorders and post traumatic stress. Witnesses also said Elson was beaten by his father as a child.

State witnesses, including Daniel, testified Elson didn't smell of alcohol and he didn't seemed intoxicated. Daniel said he started drinking beer after he assaulted her.

Thornhill said there's nothing about the childhood abuse Elson suffered had any effect on his ability to "plan, deliberate or form specific intent" before and during the kidnapping.

"Regardless of what his true BAC (blood alcohol content) was at 4 a.m. May 17, 2010 the defendant acted with premeditation, planning and specific intent in abducting and sexually assaulting (the victim)."

Mike Lahammer, Elson's attorney, said afterward he was not surprised by the verdict.

"The legal system continues to have problems dealing with people who have mental disease and hold them to the same standards," Lahammer said. "But we respect the court's decision."

Amanda Daniel declined to speak to the media.

Her father said she has a long way to go in her recovery, but he hopes this day gives her some closure.

"I believe this will be a good day for her," he said.

LIVE COVERAGE of Friday's verdict: