CROWN POINT | An adult daughter of a slain Merrillville KFC manager unwittingly sympathized with her mother's killer after speaking to him at the bloody scene.

The daughter gave that wrenching testimony Monday in the first day of the state's case against Ronnie Rice, who pleaded guilty in January to killing his boss the morning of Dec. 10, 2007, while robbing the restaurant on U.S. 30 near Taft Street in Merrillville.

Rice, 30, of Merrillville, admitted to bludgeoning Maxine Urbanczyk, 61, with a chair and a hammer, crushing the woman's skull. An autopsy showed the woman also suffered six broken ribs and other fractures, court records state.

Police later recovered the stolen cash from a recycling bin behind a shop not far from KFC.

Prosecutors charged Rice with murder and murder in the perpetration of a robbery for which he faces a potential life sentence without parole.

Rice's plea admitted guilt but left sentencing to be argued.

Prosecutors on Monday began presenting their case before Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell, who can impose a sentence of between 45 and 65 years in prison or life without parole. Had Rice gone to trial, jurors would have decided guilt and also imposed the sentence.

The penalty phase of the process is expected to continue for several days.

Urbanczyk's daughter testified Monday to visiting the scene after learning from her brother about what had happened. She said she had sympathized at the time with the two workers who had discovered her mother's body and with Rice, who also was at the scene.

Police on Monday testified to responding to calls from the KFC workers who had found Urbanczyk's body and later recovering the cash with the help of video surveillance from nearby businesses.

KFC video shows Urbanczyk opening the back door to Rice, who used a code to open the safe.

Rice told police he killed Urbanczyk when he became enraged during the robbery, court records state.

Prosecutors said Rice killed the woman to prevent her from identifying him as the robber.