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In a prepared statement Nichols said: "I want to thank everyone for
attending this press conference. On October 1st I announced the
arrest of Chris Harris on 5 counts of murder and 1 count of
attempted murder of the Raymond Gee family in Beason, Illinois. I
also told you that the investigation was continuing.
Early this morning, the Gee Homicide Task Force arrested three
additional persons involved in this case. Those arrested are:
Jason L. Harris
4022 Miller Rd.
Armington, Ill. DOB
08-11-87 age 22
Jennifer C. Earnest
4022 Miller Rd.
Armington, Ill. DOB
10-11-85 age 24
Sara A. Duncan
5541 Rosehill Rd. 101
Sarasota, Fla.
DOB 05-16-68 age 43
Jason L. Harris is the
brother of Chris Harris. Jennifer C. Earnest is the girlfriend of
Jason L. Harris. Sara Duncan is the mother of Jennifer Earnest.
Jason Harris, Earnest and Sara Duncan are currently being charged
with obstructing justice, a Class A felony. Jason Harris and Earnest
were arrested at the Safety Complex. Sara Duncan was arrested today in Sarasota, Florida.
These arrests are based
upon subsequent investigative interviews that have occurred since
the previous press conference.
Again, this investigation
will continue until all leads have been exhausted and the analysis
of the crime scene evidence is completed by the Illinois State
Police Crime Lab.
I would like to commend
all members of the Gee Homicide Task Force, including my department,
Lincoln Police Department, Illinois State Police, Illinois State
Police Crime Lab, Illinois State Police Terrorism and Intelligence
Center, Logan County State's Attorney's Office, Illinois Attorney
General's Office, and the Logan County Emergency Management Agency.
We all owe a great deal
of gratitude to each of these fine officers, criminal analysts,
prosecutors and to the countless others behind the scenes that could
not be here today. Thank you for your service!!"
[to top of second column] |
In a brief Q-and-A, Nichols would not elaborate on the arrested individuals'
involvement in the case, outside of the fact they were charged with
obstruction of justice. He said that there could be further charges
in the future but would not say.
The following is the text
from the brief Q-and-A the sheriff allowed.
Q.
Do you expect more arrests?
A.
Other charges may be pending.
Q.
Just to clarify, these charges are obstruction of justice, not
that they took part?
A.
Obstruction of justice.
Q.
Can you describe in what way they took part?
A.
No.
The
sheriff made it a point to bring up law enforcement on the stage
with him.
"Most
of them up here on the stage behind me, without these people we
wouldn't have accomplished what we've got up to this date."
Q.
Can you update us on the 3-year-old?
A.
Last update I had she is still in fair condition.
Q.
What do you make of the ex-wife of the primary murder suspect
saying she doesn't believe her husband is in any way connected
with this?
A. I
have no comment at all.
Q.
Can you explain how these three individuals arrested knew the
Gee family?
A.
Well, as you can see, Mr. Harris is a brother to Chris Harris, and
I think it will go from there.
Q.
Is it true that security has been increased for Tabitha Gee?
A.
The security for Tabitha has been the same from day one.
Q.
Why is Mr. Harris being held in McLean County?
A.
It's for different reasons that I made that decision.
Q.
What can you tell the people of Lincoln and Beason, Ill.? Can
they rest easy at this point or do you believe there are others?
You said there might be other charges or arrests?
A.
The same thing I have said from the start: Continue to lock your
doors at night, just like you would under any other circumstance;
know where your kids are; and pay attention to what is going on
around you, and take care of your neighbors. Nothing different
since day one.
Q.
Do you still need the public's help?
A.
We'll take any tip if someone has valuable information.
Q.
What about a weapon?
A.
At this point in time I have no comment on that.
[LDN staff] |
