The Dustin Finlaw murder trial got underway this morning in Morgan County Court.

Opening statements in the trial began just after 9:30 this morning.

Morgan County State’s Attorney Gray Noll told the jury the evidence will allegedly show that on the night of May, 24^th, 2018, the then-18 year old Finlaw stabbed 42 year old Robert L. Utter to death in Meredosia. Noll also alleges Finlaw and Utter knew each other and had met through the online apps Badoo and Grindr previously, and that evidence from Utter’s phone and at the crime scene will show that Finlaw was present at the scene and committed the murder.

Finlaw who is representing himself, claims that the prosecution’s case is “circumstantial and consequential” and that another man was present that night who stabbed Utter to death in his own vehicle.

Finlaw alleges that he was questioned by law enforcement while under duress and was suffering from PTSD after witnessing the murder.

After opening arguments, the state began its case by calling Morgan County Sheriff’s Deputy Alan Potter followed by Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigator Erin Bowers, and Jacksonville Police Detective Kyle Chumley during the morning session.

Potter gave a brief timeline of securing the crime scene and preliminary investigations while he was assigned to patrol in Meredosia the morning the murder was discovered.

Bowers and Chumley provided testimony on both physical and forensic evidence gathered during the investigation.

After mid-day, the state called Illinois State Police Captain Troy Phillips of the Division of Criminal Investigation for Zone 4. Phillips’ testimony was interjected with 3 videos taken of questioning with Finlaw on the day of and the day after the murder.

The first video shown to the jury was an initial questioning at the Meredosia Police Department in which Finlaw told police that he was at home at the time of the murder and had only heard of a murder in Meredosia through his mother the afternoon proceeding the time frame of the slaying. The video also depicts Finlaw breaking his phone and struggling with police.

The second video taken the following day shows Finlaw apologizing to police saying he had gone outside of his home for a jog near where the murder had allegedly taken place. He said that he had panicked when police arrived at his home, and didn’t know what to say to them, and didn’t want the crime to be pinned on him. Finlaw also denied having contact with Utter on the Grindr app despite police presenting him with evidence he had spoken with Utter’s profile on the app.

The third interview shows Finlaw uncontrollably sobbing saying that he admitted to knowing Utter through Grindr and that he was meeting up Utter to have sex at Finlaw’s house later in the day. Finlaw tells police in the video that another man was also present in Utter’s vehicle when Utter picked him up before the time of the murder. The name of the occupant went by the name of “Darren,” according to Finlaw, and that “Darren” was the perpetrator of the crime. Finlaw told police at the time that he was scared and ran off after Darren attacked Utter, stabbing him. Finlaw claimed at the time he didn’t want to call police or tell police about being a witness because he was scared it would reveal to his mother that he was bi-sexual. Phillips and Bowers can be seen in the video telling Finlaw that they know “Darren” doesn’t exist and they believe that police have enough evidence to prove to a jury that he should be convicted of murder. Bowers at one point in the video can be seen asking Finlaw why he committed the crime.

The video concluded just before 5PM today. Visiting Judge Jack Davis III dismissed the jury shortly thereafter, with the court officially adjourning at approximately 5:15.

Phillips is supposed to continue testimony with a series of more videos as the state continues its case tomorrow at 9AM.

Jeremy Coumbes assisted in the gathering of this report.

Veterans and others who have complaints about the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs will have a new outlet to voice their concerns under a state law that’s going into effect without the governor’s signature.

Dan Petrella of the Chicago Tribune reports that Governor J.B. Pritzker failed to sign or veto a proposed law that creates a veteran’s accountability unit within IDVA with a director to be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. While it will operate independently of the department, the new unit will be funded out of the agency’s budget. A bill that is passed by the General Assembly and fails to receive action by the governor within 60 days automatically becomes law.

Pritzker’s Communication Director Jordan Abudayyeh said in a statement to the Tribune that Pritzker worked with the sponsors and that he supports the legislation becomes law. Abuddayeh blamed the missed signing deadline on “an internal miscommunication” after a planned signing ceremony was delayed due to the most recent COVID-19 surge.

State Republicans have been extremely loud in their opposition towards the Pritzker Administration’s handling of the IDVA, especially after a covid outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans Home killed 36 residents in late 2020, eventually leading to IDVA Director Linda Chapa La Via’s resignation in January of last year.

A press release by Republican Illinois Senator Sue Rezin of Morris yesterday says Pritzker’s failure to act on the bill was another incident of “the Pritzker Administration’s history of making careless mistakes when caring for veterans.”

Pritzker blasted former Governor Bruce Rauner during his gubernatorial campaign in 2018 due to Rauner’s handling of the outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease at the Quincy Veterans Home in the Fall of 2015.

A Springfield judge has granted a temporary restraining order halting the implementation of new judicial subcircuits.

The order was issued yesterday morning by Illinois 7^th Circuit Judge Ryan Cadigan in response to a lawsuit filed on Friday by Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas Haine. The suit challenges the constitutional muster of he subcircuit creation legislation approved January 5th in the General Assembly and signed January 7th by Governor J.B. Pritzker.

The four-page order prevents Pritzker, the Illinois State Board of Elections and the Clerk of the Illinois Supreme Court “from taking any steps to enforce or institute the Judicial Circuits Districting Act of 2022.” The 7^th Judicial Circuit also fell under the act, which covers Morgan, Scott, Greene, and Sangamon counties among others with elections slated in those counties in 2024. The Madison County relief was sought because their judicial circuit has elections this Fall. With the TRO in place, Madison County will elect their judges at-large rather than in the subcircuit model. The filing comes one day before circulation of election petitions start in Madison County.

Haine told The Alton Telegraph that he will formally move for a preliminary injunction in the coming days asking the court to continue the order past February 15th, the date of the next court hearing in the case.

Several Illinois prisons are on complete lockdown as COVID-19 cases surge within their walls.

ABC7-Chicago’s I-Team says that Western Illinois Correctional Center, a medium-security prison in Mt. Sterling, currently reports 600 prisoners infected with the virus, which is about 41% of the prison’s overall population.

Jacksonville Correctional Facility currently reports 162 prisoners and 34 staff who are positive with COVID-19, placing them at 32% of the prison population positive with the virus and is also on lockdown status.

A prisoner’s family at WICC told the I-Team that they are angry that they have let the outbreak at the prison reach such high levels.

WICC and Jacksonville are on COVID lockdown, with no outside visitors permitted. The facilities are among 32 others statewide listed as being on full lockdown because of COVID.

The Illinois Department of Corrections has not responded to requests for comment to the I-Team’s report. A phone call left by WLDS News with IDOC’s Public Information Office has not yet been returned.

It took approximately six hours yesterday for a jury to be selected in the Dustin Finlaw murder trial in Morgan County Court.

Eight men and four women will decide the fate of 22 year old Dustin A. Finlaw of Meredosia in the 2018 murder of Robert Utter of Rushville.

Sangamon County Judge Jack Davis III presided over the hearing. Davis had Morgan County State’s Attorney Gray Noll and Finlaw, defending himself in the case, whittle down approximately 50 jurors to 12 and two alternates. All of the jurors will hear evidence in the trial, which begins this morning at 9AM with opening arguments from both parties. The trial is expected to last the rest of the week and possibly into Monday.

The court dismissed a dozen potential jurors from two pools during the first session of the day, while selecting two alternates from a final pool of twelve yesterday afternoon.

The jurors were asked by Morgan County State’s Attorney Gray Noll whether they would have an issue remaining impartial if they had to view evidence that was graphic in nature due to the nature of the charges,

He also asked if they would have problems being impartial if they heard evidence involving what he termed “unconventional sexual activity.”

After opening statements today, the state will begin presenting their case. If convicted of the first degree murder charges, Finlaw could face up to natural life in prison.

Springfield Fire Fighters were able to save a $5 million grain bin complex on Monday.

According to multiple Springfield news outlets and Springfield Fire Fighters Local 37’s Facebook Page, a 9-1-1 call was placed for a grain bin complex located in the 1200 block of Archer Elevator Road just off of Old Jacksonville Road around 5PM yesterday.

Responders arrived on scene to find a farm tractor was on fire inside of a building connected to the grain bins. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they observed heavy black smoke coming from the complex and had to force entry. Smoke from the fire was said to have been observed from Koke Mill Road.

Due to low area water supply, crews called county fire agencies from Loami, New Berlin, and Chatham to assist, but those agencies were canceled before arrival.

After forcing entry, first responding units were able to knock down the fire in a matter of 20 minutes.

There has been no official announcement on the origin of the fire. It currently remains under further investigation.

The Illinois State Police have arrested a Beardstown man after a 10-month long investigation into a criminal sexual abuse case.

ISP’s Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 4 in Springfield announced today the arrest of 20 year old David Hernandez of Beardstown for aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

According to DCI Zone 4 investigators, an investigation began in early March 2021 after a minor victim disclosed a sexual relationship with Hernandez. Through the course of the investigation, Zone 4 agents were able to locate evidence that supported the victim’s disclosure.

The Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Hernandez with two counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse. DCI Zone 4 agents executed the warrant yesterday and transported Hernandez to the Schuyler County Jail. He is currently being held on $150,000 bond with 10% to apply.

Anyone with information concerning this case is asked to contact ISP Zone 4 Investigations at (217) 782-4750.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is asking for community assistance in locating a truck stolen out of Pike County in December.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department needs help finding the pictured red 2-Door GMC Sierra. The truck had a black toolbox and black fender flares at the time it was taken.

The Sheriff’s Office says the vehicle could possibly be abandoned somewhere in Adams County.

Anyone with any information is urged to call the Adams County Sheriff’s Office at 217-222-9360.

Tips may also be submitted anonymously with the Quincy Regional Crime Stoppers at 217-228-4474.

Information has been released about a prisoner escape and property damage at the Morgan County Jail from Saturday.

Jacksonville Police were called to the West Morgan Depot at 1:04AM Saturday to a report of multiple fights in progress inside the bar. Upon arrival, police arrested 21 year old Daveon L. Mapes and 28 year old Kaliya N. Mapes of the 1000 block of East Morton Avenue for battery after allegedly striking a bouncer inside the bar.

Kaliya Mapes later was able to post bond and be released.

According to the Journal Courier, Daveon Mapes was placed inside one of the Morgan County Jail’s visitation booths during booking. Although the glass is bulletproof inside the booths, Mapes was able to tear out the trim around the glass at approximately Noon on Saturday and free himself. Mapes then was able to bust out the glass on the front door entrance of the jail and proceeded to escape.

Mapes was able to be taken back into custody approximately 8 minutes later a few short blocks away by Jacksonville Police who located him in front of the Jacksonville Public Library on West College Avenue.

In addition to the battery charge, Mapes now faces a felony charge of criminal damage to government property and a misdemeanor charge of escape.

Morgan County Sheriff Mike Carmody told the Journal Courier that damage to the jail was approximately $6,000.

After a hearing yesterday, bond had been set for Mapes at $20,000 with 10% to apply. He is next due in court on February 8^th. As of yesterday afternoon, Mapes remains lodged at the Morgan County Jail.