UPDATE 3/7/2011 @ 1:45 p.m.
KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A man who murdered his ex-girlfriend in an abandoned house in St. Albans now knows when he will learn his fate.

Clayton "Gino" Rogers was recently found guilty of killing Laura Amos last summer.

His sentencing has now been set for March 15th.

As he sat in silence, all Clayton “Gino” Rogers could do is wait while a jury decided his future.

After hours of deliberating, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder.

Rogers will now spend the rest of his life behind bars. The jury granted him no mercy for killing his ex-girlfriend, Laura Amos.

“I'm really thrilled to see that the jurors did the right thing today and convicted him,” Donna Holstine, Laura’s first cousin, said. “Hopefully, he'll never ever see the light of day and be able to hurt someone else.”

It was in an abandoned home in St. Albans where the former couple last saw each other. His confession tells the whole story.

"I knew I did it. I said that she's dead, I killed her, I had to do it. I had to cut her throat, slashed her -- with a knife,” Rogers told investigators.

“It's sad for both of the families,” Holstine said. “For his daughter, it's very sad.”

“I love you dad,” his daughter said as he left the courtroom.

“I love you too,” Rogers responded.

It was an emotional goodbye for Rogers' family, while Amos' family tries to move forward.

“She's not in pain anymore,” Holstine said. “She was in pain 24 hours a day for what he did to her before.”

Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants says the verdict carries a no mercy sentence with it. A formal sentencing will be set within the next 10 days.

He killed Laura Amos last summer at an abandoned home in St. Albans.

Prosecutors say Rogers admitted to stabbing and slashing Amos' throat, left her lying in a pool of blood and threw two knives into the woods as he fled.

The defense attorney argued he was drunk and not in the right state of mind to know what he was doing.

We have a crew in the courtroom, keep clicking WSAZ.com for more updates.

The jury started deliberating late Thursday after Clayton "Gino" Rogers admitted to police he killed Laura Amos.

Closing arguments wrapped up and jurors broke for the evening but will reconvene Friday morning.

The prosecution told the jury the evidence supports Clayton Rogers willingly planned and intended on killing his girlfriend last summer.

Prosecutors say Rogers admitted to stabbing and slashing Amos' throat, left her lying in a pool of blood and threw two knives into the woods as he fled.

The defense attorney argued he was drunk and not in the right state of mind to know what he was doing.

Rogers and Amos had a history of violence and some witnesses say Rogers has threatened Amos many times.

The defense says Rogers is remorseful and doesn't deserve spending the rest of his life in prison.

Now, the case is in the hands of 12 jurors. A verdict is expected Friday.

Keep clicking WSAZ.com for the latest in this court case.

UPDATE 2/24/11 @ 12:35 p.m.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Closing arguments in the murder trial of a man accused of stabbing and slashing his ex-girlfriends throat are expected this afternoon.

Testimony finished up early this morning when the defense for Clayton "Gino" Rogers called its last two witnesses.

The judge spent more than an hour clearing up the charges facing rogers and the jury instruction.

Rogers' attorney thought the state didn't have enough evidence and wanted to have rogers acquitted but the judge declined.

Rogers told police he was drinking heavily the day of the murder and snapped.

Laura Amos was found in a pool of blood inside a vacant St. Albans home last summer.

A verdict could be delivered late this afternoon.

If convicted, Rogers could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Keep clicking WSAZ.com for the very latest.

"I knew I did it," Rogers said. "I killed her, I had to do it ... I had to cut her throat, slashed her with a knife."

Rogers, 51, sat quietly, sobbing as his deadly confession played out in court.

He's accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Laura Amos, 35, last summer after she was found in a pool of blood inside a vacant St. Albans home.

The couple had a history of violence, and Amos even had a protective order against Rogers.

In the taped confession, Rogers says he was drinking heavily the day of the murder and snapped.

"I don't know why I did it; I loved her with all my heart," Rogers said. "I don't remember arguing with her, but I know when I get on vodka and she gets on vodka we're just like ... pow!"

The defense argues Rogers was drunk and not in the state of mind to commit murder.

Rogers told police he used two knives and slashed Amos' throat, then took off and threw the weapons into the woods.

He hid for two days before police caught up with him.

"She sat there holding the blood in but it was too late," Rogers said.

Now his fate is left in the hands of the jury.

Rogers says he was angry that Amos was seeing another man but says he's not sure that caused him to snap.

Last year, another ex-girlfriend of Rogers told WSAZ.com he was never abusive and can't believe Rogers would hurt anyone.

The trial continues Thursday in Judge Carrie Webster's courtoom.

If Rogers is found guilty, he could spend life in prison with or without the possibility of parole.

Trish Sumner has a lifetime of memories with her cousin, Laura Amos.

"She had a dream for her life," Sumner said.

That dream was to live on a farm and raise horses.

Laura was found dead this past weekend in her St. Albans home. Her ex-boyfriend, Gino Rogers is accused of killing her.

"Even through her rough times, she was so compassionate towards others," Sumner said. "She was so giving of herself."

"She went through very difficult things in her life," Karen Sumner-Matson, a cousin, said.

Family members say Laura and Gino's relationship was violent, and that her death could have been prevented.

Laura Amos's body was found Sunday inside a vacant home along West Main Street, just outside of St. Albans. Kanawha County Sheriff's deputies say she had severe trauma to her head, including a puncture wound to her neck.

Clayton "Gino" Rogers was arrested Monday after hiding out in the woods near the crime scene overnight. He's facing charges for Amos's murder.

On the way to his arraignment, Rogers said he was "sorry" for what happened, though he did not admit to the murder.

"We're so thankful they caught Gino. We are so blessed. We hope that he is put away forever," said Dorthy Sumner, Laura's aunt.

Laura's mother died when she was a teen, so Sumner says she served as a mother figure to her.

"Laura was a wonderful person. She had a pure heart. We love Laura. She had a family that loved her. She had many friends that loved her," Sumner said.

Her family says the former couple had a violent relationship, and she had filed charges against Rogers in the past.

"He was a violent person and he hurt many people. A lot of people are afraid of him, yet today in St. Albans," Sumner said.

Now, her family is taking domestic violence seriously.

"I'm just hoping that women that are in abusive situations get out and get help. Do not stay with an abusive person. They will kill you if they get the chance," said Donna Holstein, the victim's cousin.

But Rogers' former wife, Betsy, has a different view on this situation. She says she has trouble believing he could have killed another person.

"Around me, he was never a violent person. He never struck a hand to me. We had our arguments and everything, but he never hit me," Betsy Rogers said.

Clayton Rogers has faced several criminal charges over the past decade, according to court records. Those charges include domestic battery and malicious wounding.

Rogers is facing charges in the death of Laura Amos. She was found dead inside an abandoned house on Sunday.

Roger was located and arrested around 3:15 p.m. Monday in St. Albans.

Chief Deputy Johnny Rutherford says that Rogers had been hiding out in the woods near Fairview Drive, off Coal River Road since Sunday. This area is not far from the homicide scene. Chief Deputy Rutherford says Rogers was scared to turn himself in, but a friend was able to coax him out.

"We ran into a subject we've known through the years. We guaranteed the safety of Mr. Rogers. The subject then entered the woods. A short time later, about 15 minutes, he came out with Mr. Rogers and he gave himself up without incident," said Chief Deputy Johnny Rutherford.

Rogers' arrest followed an extensive man hunt in the west side area of St. Albans, according to deputies.

Rogers is expected to be arraigned Monday evening at Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

No other information is being released at this time.

Laura Amos' body was found around 5 p.m. at a vacant home along West Main Street. Sheriff's Deputies tell WSAZ.com. Laura was found with at least one puncture wound to the side of her neck.

According to a news release, the Kanawha Bureau of Investigation has obtained a warrant for Clayton "Gino" Eugene Rogers of St. Albans. Rogers is being charged with murder.

Rogers was Laura's ex-boyfriend. The couple had a history of domestic violence, according to deputies.

Just a short time before Laura's body was found, witnesses told deputies they saw Laura and Rogers arguing. A criminal complaint says Rogers was angry because Amos was seeing another man who had proposed to her.

Rogers turned 51 on Sunday, the day of the murder. He is described as a 5'10", 210 pound man with a bald head. Rogers has several tattoos on his body and back of his head. He has a lengthy criminal past, including charges of malicious wounding, assault, battery, and fleeing police.

He was last seen in the Fairview Drive area off Coal River Road, according to deputies.

Deputies believe Rogers is armed and dangerous.

If you have any information, you're urged to call the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department at 304-357-0169 or 911.

Laura Amos, 35, was found about 5 p.m. at 217 West Main Street in a pool of blood, according to Deputies.

Deputies say she was last seen with her boyfriend, 51-year-old Clayton Eugene "Geno" Rogers.

Lt. Bryan Stover with the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department tells WSAZ.com the couple has had a history of domestic violence.

Stover says they are now calling Rogers a person of interest; they are searching for him in St. Albans for questioning. Rogers is bald and has a lot of tattoos -- including devil horns on his head.

Deputies ask if you have any information about Rogers, contact the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

911 dispatchers tell WSAZ.com a body was found in a home on West Main Street. Dispatchers say the call came in as a woman found in a pool of blood.

A crime scene unit is on scene.

Deputies tell WSAZ.com they cannot release further information until a search warrant is obtained.

WSAZ has a crew on the scene. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.