A jury found a Chicago man guilty of abducting his ex-girlfriend and their four children and holding them hostage at an Elkhart motel.
 
The jury deliberated for two hours Wednesday before finding Jerry White, 31, guilty of one count of attempted murder and eight counts of criminal confinement.

White was accused of holding his former girlfriend, Kimberly Walker, and their four children hostage in Elkhart starting on Jan. 20. Police searched for them for more than three days until they found everyone unharmed at a motel on Elkhart's north side.

The case led to an Amber Alert that drew national attention.
White showed no emotion when the verdict was read. During his testimony, White said he never forced anyone to stay in the home and Walker and their four children went with him willingly to the motel where police later found them.

"They could've left if they wanted to," White said. "I never told anyone that they could not leave."

White also was charged with shooting a man after entering his former girlfriend's home. The man, Lathie Turnage, was blinded in the shooting. White said he shot Turnage out of fear.

White will be sentenced December 20. He faces up to 80 years in prison.
"I'm just glad it's over," said Pamela Walker, Kimberly's sister.