Jonathan Richardson found guilty of first-degree murder in Teghan Skiba case

SMITHFIELD, N.C. (WTVD) -- A jury in Johnston County took just over an hour Tuesday to reach a unanimous verdict in the Teghan Skiba murder case.

Jonathan Richardson was found guilty of first-degree murder, felony child abuse, kidnapping, and sexual offense with a child in the death of the 4-year-old.

He could now face the death penalty in the next phase of the trial which begins on Wednesday.

In his closing arguments Monday, an emotional Johnston County Assistant District Attorney Paul Jackson told jurors Skiba was tortured, sexually assaulted, and beaten by her mother's boyfriend over a 10-day period while her mother, Helen Roxanne Reyes, was out-of-state for Army Reserves training in July 2010.

Jackson said jurors will "never be the same" after listening to weeks of testimony in the case and called what Richardson allegedly did to Skiba "heinous, atrocious, cruel acts."

"It didn't end until he beat her brains so badly that she lost consciousness," said Jackson.

In 2010, the then-21-year-old Richardson took Skiba to Johnston Medical - claiming the girl had fallen off the bed. However, doctors found she had cuts, bruises, a head wound, and bite marks on her body. Skiba died days later from her injuries after she was transferred to UNC.

In his closing argument, defense attorney Jonathan Broun called the case "tragic" and "sad" and told jurors that it would be natural for them to feel "disgust," "anger," and "hatred" after listening to testimony.

"You have to go beyond your natural and understandable instincts and get to the facts," said Broun.

Broun said Richardson never intended to kill Skiba. Instead, the attorney said Richardson shook the child so hard that it caused brain injuries, and then waited too long to get her medical help.

Broun also said that despite the injuries to Skiba's genitals, there was never any sexual intent on Richardson's part.

"That is not intended to lessen what happened, but there was no sexual intent," said Broun.

Broun also asked jurors to consider Richardson's background and mental state. The defense claims he was abused as a child by his father and had undiagnosed mental problems.