At 8:30 Thursday night, a jury in Worthington, Minnesota found Josue Fraga guilty in connection with the death of his two year old niece, Samantha.

The jury deliberated for four hours before rendering the verdict: guilty on one count of first degree murder and two counts of second degree murder.

Prosecutors had argued Fraga was guilty of sexually molesting his niece in March of 2008 in a Worthington mobile home and abusing her to such an extent that she sustained injuries which would eventually lead to her death.

Nobles County Attorney Gordon Moore tells Action News, the evidence in this case was gruesome and he hopes this verdict will bring closure to the entire community. "Our whole community suffers when a child dies. And I want to commend the work of the jury. They took their work very seriously and this jury had to see some things that most juries don't have to see. And frankly never should have to see."

In addition, the jury also found there were 7 factors associated with violent crime that the judge should consider when sentencing Fraga.

In fact, right after the verdict was read, the judge in the case took those factors into consideration and sentenced Fraga to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

We know just last month, Samantha's mother buried her in Texas..more than a year after her death.
Part of the delay was due to criminal investigators reviewing the body as evidence for the trial.