Suspect in beating death appears in court

JONESBORO, Ill. -- One suspect in an Anna, Illinois, homicide appeared in court Tuesday in Union County for a pretrial hearing before Judge Mark Boie.

Travis Turner, 26, of Dongola, Illinois, faces first-degree murder charges in the April beating death of James H. "Jimmy" Morrison, 46, of Anna. Turner has pleaded not guilty.

At the hearing, public defender J. Jeremy Lloyd and state's attorney Tyler Edmonds confirmed all discovery items had been filed, the last of which was filed by Edmonds and concerned lab results of DNA testing. Lloyd said he had not filed a response.

No pretrial motions had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.

Morrison was found early April 12 outside a house on Douglas Street in Anna and was pronounced dead later at Union County Hospital.

Turner and Jessie Bell, 35, of Anna are accused of beating Morrison to death, with Bell allegedly striking him in the head with his fists and Turner allegedly hitting him in the head with a piece of lumber. Bell and Turner are being tried separately.

First-degree murder usually is punishable by 20 to 60 years in prison in Illinois, but the penalty can go up to natural life in prison. Illinois law requires those convicted of murder to serve 100 percent of their sentences.

Boie set another pretrial hearing for April 7 to allow time for motions to be filed in preparation for the June 22 trial date.

Turner remains in custody.

Pertinent address:

Market Street, Jonesboro, Illinois

Anna, Illinois

Dongola, Illinois