Death of Illinois man still unsolved months later

ANNA, Ill. -- Police say they are no closer to solving the death of an Anna man nearly 14 months after he was found in his burned-out car in Pulaski County.

The Pulaski County Sheriff's Department responded to a call about a burning vehicle in a remote area at about 4:30 p.m. Jan. 4, 2006, on a gravel road in a remote area of Pulaski County. Trea Hannah, 23, was found in his burned-out Mercury Tracer. The last time he was seen alive was Dec. 29, 2005. His parents reported him missing Jan. 2.

"It still is an active investigation and we would still like people to call with any leads," Illinois State Police Master Sgt. David Baker said. "We have some forensic evidence that doesn't lead us directly to any one person." Baker said as a homicide case it will remain open until it is solved.

When the news broke of Hannah's death, Baker said more than 100 people had been interviewed. He thinks that number is now more than 200.

"We've done several people again," he said of the interviews.

Last year, Pulaski County State's Attorney Grayson Gile thought several individuals involved with Hannah's death and that it would only be a few days before forensic evidence led to an arrest in the case.

"They may not be intimately involved and criminal charges may not be appropriate," he had said. "But we are confident they have the personal knowledge of who committed this and that they told a number of individuals."

Gile would not comment on the status of the case now, saying only that he knew police were diligent in the investigation.

The Pulaski County Board is still offering a $5,000 reward for information leading authorities to the killer, said chairman Rex Wilburn.

Wilburn said the fact the case has not been solved is frustrating.

"That was the whole point of us doing it," he said of offering the reward money. "Was to put icing on the cake. That was the only way that we knew that would help to get the last piece of the puzzle together."

Authorities are still not revealing the cause of Hannah's death, if he died in the fire or was dead when the fire was set.

Pulaski County Coroner Brian Curry said the inquest ruled Hannah's death a homicide, but offered no details of the cause of death.

"It's still under investigation," he said.

State police are working with the Pulaski County Sheriff's office to solve the case. Anyone interested in claiming the reward is asked to call the Illinois State Police at (618) 845-3740, extension 280.

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