An Illinois Man Used Disney Cups to Lure a Teenage Girl into His Home. Then, He Strangled Her to Death.

An Illinois man is in prison after he was found guilty of strangling a teenage girl he lured to his home with the promise of Disney cups after holding a garage sale.

Arthur Jensen, now 54, was convicted last year in the murder of Adara Bunn, 17.

The Kankakee Daily Journal reports Bunn went to Jensen's rummage sale at his home in Sheldon with her mother on the first weekend in August in 2019. Jensen reportedly invited her back on the following Monday.

Sheldon Police Chief Bryan Havens testified during Jensen's trial that Bunn went to his home to examine some Pocahontas toys. A neighbor reported hearing someone screaming inside the home that afternoon.

When officers responded to the residence, Jensen reportedly told them, “There’s a girl inside, and I strangled her.”

The Iroquois County Times-Republic reported a coroner determined Bunn was killed with a blue nylon rope.

A defense attorney admitted during closing arguments Jensen killed Bunn. But he contended Jensen was trying to remove Bunn from his home after she startled him by appearing in his living room.

The defense suggested a second-degree murder or manslaughter charge might be more fitting, but a jury needed only 90 minutes to convict Jensen of first-degree murder.

Jensen was recently sentenced to 50 years behind bars for the murder.

“This is a small town, very small town," Amy Watkins, the ex-wife of the victim's uncle told WCIA. "It’s not something that… I mean, we’ve had a lot happen here, but no one that it hit close to home."