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Donald Smith found guilty in the 'brutal' kidnapping, rape and murder of Cherish Perrywinkle

In a somber Duval County courtroom, a jury found 61-year-old Donald Smith, guilty on all counts.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It's been five years since the brutal kidnapping, rape and murder of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle that captivated the attention and hearts of those around the country.

In a somber Duval County courtroom, a jury found 61-year-old Donald Smith, guilty on all counts. It took just 14 minutes for them to reach that decision.

Following the verdict read the judge asked each juror, "Is this your true and correct verdict?" They all said yes.

Smith, a serial sex offender, was found guilty of taking the bright-eyed 8-year-old from her mother and sisters from a northside Walmart back in 2013.

During the quick three-day trial, the State painted Smith as a malicious man who manipulated a mother, desperate to care for her young girls.

Rayne Perrywinkle told the judge and jurors in the courtroom that she was initially worried about Donald Smith when she was inside the Dollar General store.

"I thought he was going to steal my money," she said.

Once she met him outside in the parking lot she said she was no longer concerned. Rayne said Smith promised her a $150 Walmart gift card, an offer she just couldn't refuse.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson began her opening arguments with an emotional and fuel-charged statement:

"He gagged her, he raped her, he sodomized her, and then he strangled her," She continued. "He gagged her with such force her gums and her nostrils bled, he strangled her with such force her eyeballs bled. She did not die quickly, and she did not die easily, in fact, hers was a brutal and tortured death.

In closing arguments, the State asked the jurors to close their eyes for three minutes and picture the "torture" the young girl faced in the hands of Donald Smith.

"I want you to remember what he did to her, how he strangled the life from her eyes, three minutes that's how long it took to take her life," Prosecutor Mark Caliel said.

Donald Smith's attorney's waived their closing argument.

The penalty phase of the trial will begin Tuesday morning. The death penalty and life in prison are the two choices for the jury.

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