Father of killer of scholar takes stand in death-penalty hearing: 'I love him, nothing's going to stop that'

PEORIA, Ill. - Convicted killer Brendt Christensen's father took the stand Wednesday in an effort to save his son's life, testifying about his son's childhood night terrors and his love of animals, as well as about his mother's alcoholism.

"I'm his parent, I have to be here," Michael Christensen said. "I love him, nothing's going to stop that."

Christensen testified for the defense before a jury that will decide whether Brendt Christensen should be executed for the 2017 kidnapping and