Thursday, Daniel Nellis was convicted for killing 21-year-old Michaela MacVilla of St Johnsville. 

The young woman first went missing back in September. Her family says they have been waiting the months-long journey and now, finally, came justice. 

"He didn’t just take our daughter, he took our life. We lost everything,” said MacVilla's parents Kevin and Samantha Jump.

Tears poured outside from the courtroom as Nellis was convicted.

“I hope he never sees the light of day,” Samantha said.

MacVilla was first reported missing in September, then a week later her body was found in a field. Officials say technology was the driving force of the investigation.

“From her cellphone they got the information of who she [had] been communicating with. That led them to Nellis. You could see how the technology just continued to guide this case,” said Fulton County District Attorney Chad Brown.

A juror says cellphone data clearly put Nellis at the scene of the crime. 

“It was spot on, the time frame from when he picked her up to where the body was found. It was pretty clear,” jurors we spoke to, and who prefer to be unnamed, said.

Nellis, now convicted of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon, showed no emotion to his verdict.

“Very stoned face when they read the verdict. There was no real noticeable reaction,” jurors said.

For MacVilla's parents, Thursday is the day they can begin to "move forward and get [their] lives back." 

"None of this is ever going to be easy, we're not ever going to feel whole. Just do the best we can so Michaela's memory can live on,” Samantha said. 

Nellis will be sentenced on August 22 here at the Fulton County courthouse. 

To read our previous coverage of this story, click here.