Donald Smith

Over two decades before he raped and murdered an 8-year-old girl in Florida, Donald Smith was convicted of attempting to kidnap a 13-year-old girl.

The 62-year-old is currently in the sentencing phase of his trial after he was found guilty of the rape and murder of Cherish Perrywinkle in 2013. He'll either receive the death penalty or spend the rest of his life in prison.

In court on Tuesday, a woman took the stand to tell a horrifying account of how Smith almost abducted her back in 1992.

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Carrie Ann Buck was walking to a friend's house one Sunday morning when Smith, who was 36 at the time, approached her in a van.

"He told me to get the f--k in the van," she said, describing his voice as "mean."

She told the jury that she hid inside a tubular slide at a playground after he chased her in his van.

Buck claim that's Smith said: "I know you're in there, you little b---h," and "I'm going to find you."

"I knew he was going to hurt me," she said.

A few days after the attempted kidnapping, Smith showed up outside Buck's home and her family was able to write down his license plate number. He was arrested and served six years for the kidnapping.

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Smith was found guilty of Cherish's murder after police say he lured her mother and sisters to Walmart under the premise that he would buy them clothes and a meal. Instead, he left with Cherish.

Days later, her body was found mutilated nearby. Prosecutor Mark Caliel said she "endured a nightmare no child should hav to endure."

His defense attorney argued that he is mentally ill and "wired differently." Smith started showing signs of sexual awareness by the age of 5, and when he was 10, he was exhibiting "voyeuristic tendencies." When he was 20, he started showing signs that he was a pedophile.

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'Nobody says "I think I'll be a pedophile for the rest of my life." It's a mental disorder,' the lawyer told the court.

He had only been released from jail for three weeks before he murdered Cherish. The jury is currently deliberating on sentencing Smith to death.

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Emily Blackwood is an editor at YourTango who covers pop culture, true crime, dating, relationships and everything in between. Every Wednesday at 7:20 p.m. you can ask her any and all questions about self-love, dating, and relationships LIVE on YourTango’s Facebook page. You can follow her on Instagram (@blackw00d) and Twitter (@emztweetz).

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