White Sail
Junior News Editor
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Three charged with murder of 85-year-old Belleville woman
BY ROBERT KELLY
Posted: Monday, May 23, 2011 3:01 am
EAST ST. LOUIS ”�¢ Three people were charged with first-degree murder on Sunday in the killing of an 85-year-old woman whose body was found in the trunk of her burned car.
Charged were Daquan D. Barnes, 20, of the 2400 block of Logan Avenue in Granite City; his cousin Demarcus D. Barnes, 29, of the 500 block of North Douglas Avenue in Belleville; and Latosha A. Cunningham, 38, of the 1400 block of Radiance Drive in Belleville. Each was being held in lieu of $3 million bail.
Police say the three apparently acted on the spur of the moment, grabbing Yoko Cullen of Belleville as she left a bingo game Wednesday night in Collinsville.
"It was a crime of opportunity. She was carjacked and taken to East St. Louis, where she was murdered," O'Fallon, Ill., police Capt. Jeff Wild said.
Wild commanded the Major Case Squad team that made the arrests and obtained charges against the three suspects.
The remains of Cullen were found Friday in East St. Louis.
A vehicle and suspect descriptions were distributed to police, and an officer spotted the 2006 white Dodge Charger near Cunningham's house.
Detectives said they arrested the three based on unspecified information received during intensive interviews with the three and other witnesses.
Wild said evidence indicated that the crime had not been planned.
Wild said Cullen was carjacked from the parking lot as she was leaving the Firemen's Hall on Collinsville Road.
Her car was found burned two days later near the intersection of 11th Street and Falling Springs Road in East St. Louis. Her body was in the trunk.
"This one was tough for us — as they all are," Wild said. "But an 85-year-old victim makes it tougher."
Wild declined to say whether anything had been stolen from Cullen or whether any weapons had been found. He also declined to say what evidence led to the arrests.
No previous connection has been found between Cullen or any of the suspects, Wild said. He said she may have been chosen just as an easy target for abduction.
He would not discuss the exact cause or manner of Cullen's death.
Three charged with murder of 85-year-old Belleville woman
BY ROBERT KELLY
Posted: Monday, May 23, 2011 3:01 am
EAST ST. LOUIS ”�¢ Three people were charged with first-degree murder on Sunday in the killing of an 85-year-old woman whose body was found in the trunk of her burned car.
Charged were Daquan D. Barnes, 20, of the 2400 block of Logan Avenue in Granite City; his cousin Demarcus D. Barnes, 29, of the 500 block of North Douglas Avenue in Belleville; and Latosha A. Cunningham, 38, of the 1400 block of Radiance Drive in Belleville. Each was being held in lieu of $3 million bail.
Police say the three apparently acted on the spur of the moment, grabbing Yoko Cullen of Belleville as she left a bingo game Wednesday night in Collinsville.
"It was a crime of opportunity. She was carjacked and taken to East St. Louis, where she was murdered," O'Fallon, Ill., police Capt. Jeff Wild said.
Wild commanded the Major Case Squad team that made the arrests and obtained charges against the three suspects.
The remains of Cullen were found Friday in East St. Louis.
A vehicle and suspect descriptions were distributed to police, and an officer spotted the 2006 white Dodge Charger near Cunningham's house.
Detectives said they arrested the three based on unspecified information received during intensive interviews with the three and other witnesses.
Wild said evidence indicated that the crime had not been planned.
Wild said Cullen was carjacked from the parking lot as she was leaving the Firemen's Hall on Collinsville Road.
Her car was found burned two days later near the intersection of 11th Street and Falling Springs Road in East St. Louis. Her body was in the trunk.
"This one was tough for us — as they all are," Wild said. "But an 85-year-old victim makes it tougher."
Wild declined to say whether anything had been stolen from Cullen or whether any weapons had been found. He also declined to say what evidence led to the arrests.
No previous connection has been found between Cullen or any of the suspects, Wild said. He said she may have been chosen just as an easy target for abduction.
He would not discuss the exact cause or manner of Cullen's death.