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Oglesby files motion to continue sentencing, requests new counsel

A brown storage unit next to a brick building in Maquon, Illinois.
Jane Carlson
/
TSPR
The decomposing remains of Richard Young were found in the storage unit on Oct. 7, 2022, after a report of a suspicious odor.

A Knox County woman convicted of poisoning her longtime boyfriend with eye drops and then hiding his body in a storage unit filed a motion saying she wants new legal representation as her sentencing hearing approaches.

Marcy L. Oglesby, 53, filed a handwritten, three-page motion in Knox County court on Thursday. Claiming her public defense in the murder case was inadequate, Oglesby is asking the court to appoint new, private counsel and again postpone her sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27.

Following a June bench trial, Judge Andrew Doyle found Oglesby guilty of murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery with a toxic substance in the death of Richard Young, the former police chief for the village of Maquon.

Young’s decomposing remains were discovered more than three years ago in a Maquon storage unit across the street from the home where Oglesby and Young lived.  

During the bench trial, Knox County State’s Attorney Ashley Worby presented evidence that Oglesby put eye drops and other medication in Young’s food and drink. Oglesby also drained his bank accounts with the promise of them buying a home together in the country. Meanwhile, Oglesby was in a romantic online relationship with a man from Nigeria, which the state presented as evidence of motive.

Oglesby’s sentencing initially was scheduled for Sept. 3, but was pushed back to October due to motions filed in July by her public defenders, David Hansen and Chris Kanthak.

Those motions are for a new trial and for summary judgment, but have not yet been considered in court. They argue the state did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Oglesby committed murder or that Young died of poisoning from tetrahydrozoline, which is the active ingredient in eye drops.

They also say Oglesby was convicted of multiple charges related to the same act, so some of those charges should be vacated prior to sentencing.

The sentencing hearing begins at 9 a.m. Monday, with the judge likely to first consider the motions filed by Oglesby’s public defenders and Oglesby herself. 

She faces 20 to 60 years in prison on the murder charges alone.

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

Jane Carlson is TSPR's regional reporter.