People v. Rissley

Defendant, Jeffrey Rissley, pleaded guilty in the circuit court of Bureau County to the aggravated kidnapping and first degree murder of six-year-old Kahla Lansing. At a separate sentencing hearing, a jury found that the defendant was eligible for the death penalty based on two statutory aggravating factors. A jury found that defendant was eligible for the death penalty because the murder was committed in the course of an aggravated kidnapping. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1(b)(6).) The jury also found that defendant was eligible for the death penalty because the "murdered…