A Galesburg man accused of a beating a woman to death with a hammer in a home on North Soangetaha Road has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.
David L. Nicholson Klingerman Jr., 29, appeared in Knox County court with public defender Chris Kanthak and waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Galesburg police responded to 30 N. Soangetaha Road on Oct. 26, after a member of the defendant’s family requested a well-being check.
Police could see blood smeared on the floor inside the residence and later found a woman’s body wrapped in a dark-colored sheet under the back porch of the home.
Tree branches and a piece of wood were found resting on top of the body.
Once inside the residence, officers found numerous containers of alcohol, additional streaks and spatters of blood, and chunks of human flesh.
The victim was identified Georgette E. Rodrigues, 67. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force head trauma.
Police found Nicholson Klingerman Jr. hiding in a closet in the home, which is near the entrance to Soangetaha Country Club and was sold around ten days prior to the murder.
He is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery to a person over 60 years of age, and concealment of a homicide.
In court on Monday, a soft-spoken Nicholson Klingerman Jr. told Judge Andrew Doyle he understood what it meant to waive his right to a preliminary hearing and was not coerced to do so.
He remains in custody at the Knox County jail.
At the defense’s request, a pre-trial conference is set for Dec. 1.
Authorities have not shared how Nicholson Klingerman Jr. and Rodrigues knew each other.
Nicholas Klingerman Jr. previously lived in McLean County.
