FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ill. (WJPF) – An Eldorado man has been convicted of first degree murder.

Heath Dunning, 35, was convicted in Franklin County Court Wednesday.

In April 2021, Dunning stabbed Dennis “Lance” Martin to death while the pair were driving on Route 149, east of West Frankfort.

According to Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn, Dunning was driving Martin’s van when the two got into an argument. Martin, unhappy with Dunning’s driving, tried to take the keys out of the ignition. In response, Dunning, still behind the wheel of the moving vehicle, plunged a knife into Martin’s chest, piercing his heart, and killing him almost instantly.

After three hours of deliberating, a jury convicted Heath Dunning of first degree murder and for being a felon in possession of a weapon. He’ll be sentenced at a later date.