A jury found Caleb Cannon guilty of first-degree murder Monday afternoon in the death of his child’s mother, Nikki Burgess.

The jury began deliberating about 2 p.m. after both the defense and prosecution delivered their closing arguments. The guilty verdict was reached less than two hours later about 3:45 p.m.

Cannon was given an automatic life sentence.

Burgess vanished in May 2014, never to be seen or heard from again. Her body has also yet to be found. Cannon’s former cellmate testified last week that Cannon told him he took her body to a farm and used a machine to grind it up.

During closing arguments, the prosecution focused on how they know Cannon killed the mother of his child, Nikki Burgess.

“You know that the defendant killed Ms. Burgess because of [his son’s testimony of] unusual events that afternoon and night of her death,” the prosecution said.

PHOTOS: The Nikki Burgess case

“First of all, the defendant was late to pick him up, which he testified had never happened before. He was so late that he was the last child left at school, and he had actually fallen asleep in the principal’s office. He told you the defendant took him back to Ms. Burgess’ house and they proceeded to go back into the house and hover for over five hours,” the prosecution continued.

The defense focused on what they saw as weak points in witness testimony that did not prove guilt.

“These witnesses don’t match about key things,” said attorney Jim Todd.

“[Cannon’s son] comes into this court, very difficult for everybody; he hasn’t seen his dad in three years. He says it was unusual to go back to the house. They want you to think it was unheard of, but young Cannon said himself sometimes after school we go to the mall, we go here, we go there, it’s Memorial Day weekend, let the kids play outside,” Todd continued.