There have been four homicides in Macomb and one homicide in Bushnell since March 2022.
One case has already reached resolution with a conviction and prison sentence.
Here is the latest on the other cases:
Teenagers charged in Bushnell shooting death
The two teenagers accused in this month’s fatal shooting in Bushnell were back in court Wednesday afternoon.
Public Defender Stephanie Hilton asked for an examination to determine whether Davin Purden, 18, is fit to stand trial. Hilton said Purden had auditory hallucinations, poor memory, and she questioned his cognitive function.
An exam will be done in the next month. Purden is due back in court on July 24.
The other suspect, Nicholas Lafary, 17, was in court with attorney Andrew Stuckart. Lafary pleaded not guilty and waived his right for a preliminary hearing.
A pretrial conference for Lafary is scheduled for August 14.
Both cases were heard by Circuit Court Judge Nigel Graham.
Purden and Lafary are each charged with first degree murder in the June 2 shooting death of Travis Purden, 43. He was shot multiple times. He was found dead in his home in the 600 block of Osbourne St.
Two others, Patricia Purden, 37, and a 17-year old female, are charged with obstruction of justice related to the shooting.
The house party shooting
Demond Wilson, Jr., 26, of Calumet Park appeared in court Monday morning in front of Judge Graham.
Wilson is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. He has pleaded not guilty.
Wilson is accused in the shooting death of Jerman Beathea, 26, of Chicago at a crowded house party on North Johnson Street, just a few blocks from the Western Illinois University campus, during the early morning hours of March 25, 2023.
Beathea was pronounced dead at the scene. Ten other people were wounded; all survived.
Wilson’s attorney, Scott McClintock, said the state is still providing discovery to him. Discovery is the list of witnesses and evidence that will be presented at trial.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for Aug. 2.
Domestic altercation leads to stabbing death
Portia Garrison, 28, is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of her husband, Ricky Haymer, 27.
She has pleaded not guilty.
Public Defender Stephanie Hilton and prosecutors agreed on Monday to schedule the pretrial for August 14.
Judge Graham is also hearing this case.
Police were called to the scene on Wheeler Circle during the predawn hours of Feb. 7, 2023. They found Haymer on the floor with a stab wound.
Haymer was taken to McDonough District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:55 a.m.
Two children were in the home at the time of the stabbing. They were placed in protective custody.
The shooting across the street from the WIU campus
There’s been another continuation in the Dylan Lovato trial. He is charged with four counts of first-degree murder.
In court on Tuesday in front of Circuit Court Judge Heidi Benson, defense attorney Andrew Stuckart said he was waiting for a ruling on a motion to suppress, and had other matters he was looking into. He did not indicate what information he would like to suppress.
The next pretrial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 8.
The case dates back to March 9, 2022. Lovato, 24, is accused of driving to Macomb in the middle of the night from his home in northern Illinois, entering his ex-girlfriend’s apartment on North Charles Street, and shooting Ivan Almanza in the head while Almanza was asleep.
Police were called to the scene at 4:34 a.m. Almanza was pronounced dead at 5:09 a.m. at McDonough District Hospital.
Lovato was captured a short time later while driving through Galesburg.
He has pleaded not guilty.
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.
