SIU grad students charged with murder

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. -- Two Southern Illinois University graduate students have been charged with murder in a plot to rob a Murphysboro man at his home, police said.

The plot went awry when the man they intended to rob shot and killed the brother of one of the students. They are charged in his death.

Sociology graduate student Taffia Cunningham, 24, and music graduate student Jahneria Singletary, 25, have pleaded not guilty in Jackson County Circuit Court to charges of first-degree murder, armed violence and home invasion, officials said.

They were each released on $5,000 bail.

Donald Druid, 31, of Raleigh, N.C., who police say helped Cunningham and Singletary, remains in Jackson County Jail on $10,000 bail.

He also has been charged with first-degree murder, armed violence and home invasion.

Karen Smith, 23, of Durham, N.C., was charged with home invasion and armed violence, and released on $1,000 bail.

Police say the two students enlisted the help of Druid, Smith and Taffia Cunningham's brother Tyree Cunningham, in a plot to break into the Murphysboro home of Prentice Washington and rob him of his money on Sept. 8.

Four waited outside

Jahneria Singletary is pregnant with Washington's child, said Jackson County Sheriff William Kilquist.

Four of the alleged robbers stayed outside Washington's home while the fifth, Tyree Cunningham, 22, also of North Carolina, approached Washington with a gun, Kilquist said.

But Washington shot and killed Cunningham before the would-be robber could fire his own weapon, Kilquist said.

Taffia Cunningham, Singletary and Druid are charged with Tyree Cunningham's murder because, were it not for the robbery plot, the man would still be alive, Kilquist said.

Officials would not say why Smith was not also charged with murder.

Jackson County State's Attorney Mike Wepsiec says Washington was justified when he shot Cunningham.

"It was in defense of his property, and in defense of his person," Wepsiec said.

Washington may also face obstruction of justice charges in the crime, officials said.

Washington transported Tyree Cunningham's body to a remote area near Crab Orchard Lake after the shooting instead of calling the authorities, police said. Authorities found the body two days after the crime.

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Tuesday.