IL - Joliet, Female body near Cemetery, Nov 2018 - Danica Ford *Arrest*

[Niner]

Thursday, August 15th:
*Trial continues (Day 8) (@ 10am ET) - IL – Danica Shernay Ford (22) (found in a shallow grave by hunter in a wooded area along West Jefferson Street near Woodland Memorial Park II on Nov. 12, 2018, Joliet; Id’d Nov. 20, 2018) – *Deiontae Shawnrico McMillian (24/now 30) (BF) charged & indicated (2/13/19) & arraigned (12/18/19) with 2 counts of 1st degree intentional murder & 1 count of 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $2M bond. And indicted (11/21/18), arrested (11/22/18) & arraigned (12/18/18) in Fayetteville, N.C. (was extradited to Illinois) also charged (11/12/18) with concealing a homicide. Plead not guilty. $2M bond. Will County
Trial began on 8/5/24 with jury selection. 12 Jurors & 2 alternates chosen on 8/5/24. Trial began on 8/6/24.
Prosecutors Erin M. Krone & Mark Fleszewski & Amanda Tasker. McMillian pro Se (representing himself) with public defenders Eric Burg, Nicole Watson Philp & Anthony Purrazzo as stand-by counsels.
Court info from 1/13/20 thru 7/31/24 & Jury Selection Day 1 (8/5/24) & Trial Day 1-6 (8/6-13/24) reference post #260 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ry-nov-2018-danica-ford-arrest.399785/page-13
8/14/24 Wednesday, Trial Day 7: No info available yet. Trial continues on Thursday, 8/15/24.

 

[Niner]

Can not believe I am finding NOTHING on this case when I search.... most recent one coming up for me is Jan. 10, 2024.


Friday, August 16th:
*Trial continues (Day 9) (@ 10am ET) - IL – Danica Shernay Ford (22) (found in a shallow grave by hunter in a wooded area along West Jefferson Street near Woodland Memorial Park II on Nov. 12, 2018, Joliet; Id’d Nov. 20, 2018) – *Deiontae Shawnrico McMillian (24/now 30) (BF) charged & indicated (2/13/19) & arraigned (12/18/19) with 2 counts of 1st degree intentional murder & 1 count of 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $2M bond. And indicted (11/21/18), arrested (11/22/18) & arraigned (12/18/18) in Fayetteville, N.C. (was extradited to Illinois) also charged (11/12/18) with concealing a homicide. Plead not guilty. $2M bond. Will County
Trial began on 8/5/24 with jury selection. 12 Jurors & 2 alternates chosen on 8/5/24. Trial began on 8/6/24.
Prosecutors Erin M. Krone & Mark Fleszewski & Amanda Tasker. McMillian pro Se (representing himself) with public defenders Eric Burg, Nicole Watson Philp & Anthony Purrazzo as stand-by counsels.
Court info from 1/13/20 thru 7/31/24 & Jury Selection Day 1 (8/5/24) & Trial Day 1-6 (8/6-13/24) reference post #260 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ry-nov-2018-danica-ford-arrest.399785/page-13
8/14/24 Wednesday, Trial Day 7: No info available yet. Trial continues on Thursday, 8/15/24.
8/15/24 Thursday, Trial Day 8: No info available yet. Trial continues on Friday, 8/16/24.

 

[Niner]

YES!! Finally Justice for Danica - 6 long years have ended...

Murderer Hides Body In Joliet, Jury Returns Guilty Verdicts

An off-duty Joliet police officer who was out hunting came across Danica Ford's body in November 2018.

patch.com

Aug. 16, 2024
JOLIET — A two-week-long jury trial ended this week with the Will County State's Attorney's Office and the Will County Sheriff's Office winning the successful prosecution of Danica Ford's killer: Deiontae McMillian of North Carolina.
[.....]
McMillian faces for a mandatory prison sentence of 20 to 60 years, to be served at 100 percent.

"Yesterday, the Will County Sheriff’s Office was pleased to learn that Deiontae S. McMillian was found guilty by a jury of his peers for the murder of Danica Ford which occurred in November of 2018," Will County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chief Dan Jungles told Joliet Patch. "In October 2019, members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office were awarded the 'Award of Excellence' at the Illinois Homicide Investigator’s Association Conference for work done regarding this case.
[.....]
According to a press release issued Friday night by Lisa Las for the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow sentencing and post-trial motions are scheduled for October 21.


Article has a lot of back info on the case.

 

[Niner]

Monday, October 21st:
*Sentencing Hearing & Post-Trial Motions Hearing (@ am ET) - IL – Danica Shernay Ford (22) (found in a shallow grave by hunter in a wooded area along West Jefferson Street near Woodland Memorial Park II on Nov. 12, 2018, Joliet; Id’d Nov. 20, 2018) – *Deiontae Shawnrico McMillian (24/now 30) (BF) charged & indicated (2/13/19) & arraigned (12/18/19) with 2 counts of 1st degree intentional murder & 1 count of 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $2M bond. And indicted (11/21/18), arrested (11/22/18) & arraigned (12/18/18) in Fayetteville, N.C. (was extradited to Illinois) also charged (11/12/18) with concealing a homicide. Plead not guilty. $2M bond. Will County
Trial began on 8/5/24 with jury selection. 12 Jurors & 2 alternates chosen on 8/5/24. Trial began on 8/6/24 & ended 8/16/24 with a GUILTY verdict.
Prosecutors Erin M. Krone & Mark Fleszewski & Amanda Tasker. McMillian pro Se (representing himself) with public defenders Eric Burg, Nicole Watson Philp & Anthony Purrazzo as stand-by counsels.
Court info from 1/13/20 thru 7/31/24 & Jury Selection Day 1 (8/5/24) & Trial Day 1-6 (8/6-13/24) reference post #260 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ry-nov-2018-danica-ford-arrest.399785/page-13
8/14/24 Wednesday, Trial Day 7: No info available yet. Trial continues on Thursday, 8/15/24.
8/15/24 Thursday, Trial Day 8: No info available yet. Trial continues on Friday, 8/16/24.
8/16/24 Friday, Trial Day 9: A two-week-long jury trial ended this week with the Will County State's Attorney's Office & the Will County Sheriff's Office winning the successful prosecution of Danica Ford's killer: Deiontae McMillian of North Carolina. McMillian faces for a mandatory prison sentence of 20 to 60 years, to be served at 100 percent. "Yesterday, the Will County Sheriff’s Office was pleased to learn that McMillian was found guilty by a jury of his peers for the murder of Danica which occurred in November of 2018," Will County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chief Dan Jungles said. "In October 2019, members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office were awarded the 'Award of Excellence' at the Illinois Homicide Investigator’s Association Conference for work done regarding this case. According to a press release issued Friday night by Lisa Las for the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow sentencing & post-trial motions are scheduled for 10/21/24.

 

[Niner]

@faithx - not finding any articles on his sentencing - is there any court updates yet? TIA!

 

[faithx]

@faithx - not finding any articles on his sentencing - is there any court updates yet? TIA!

Event Date Docket Entry
10/22/2024 Sheriff / Jail / DOC Receipt
10/21/2024 Clerk's Certificate of Notification to Court Reporters
10/21/2024 Case Title
10/21/2024 Notice of Appeal
10/21/2024 Order for Free Transcripts/App of State Appellate Defender
10/21/2024 Clerk's Certificate of Mailing Notice of Appeal

10/21/2024 Disposition 03/00 Count 003 No Fine & Cost
Disposition: Merged with Another Offense MURDER/STRONG PROB KILL/INJUR
Disposition Type: Court Action Defendant Plea: No Plea Entered
Statute 720 5/9-1(a)(2) Class M Orig.
Sentence: 10/21/2024
No Fine & Cost .00

10/21/2024 Disposition 02/00 Count 002 No Fine & Cost
Disposition: Merged with Another Offense MURDER/INTENT TO KILL/INJURE
Disposition Type: Court Action Defendant Plea: No Plea Entered
Statute 720 5/9-1(a)(1) Class M Orig.
Sentence: 10/21/2024
No Fine & Cost .00

10/21/2024 Disposition 01/00 Count 001 Fine & Cost Total
Disposition: Guilty MURDER/INTENT TO KILL/INJURE
Disposition Type: By Jury Defendant Plea: Not Guilty
Statute 720 5/9-1(a)(1) Class M Orig.
Sentence: 10/21/2024
Sentence: Department Of Corrections 48Yrs Sentence In Force
Sentence: Credit Time Served 2161Days Sentence In Force
Sentence: Mandatory Supervised Release Sentence In Force
Sentence: Fines and/or Cost/Penalties and Fees Sentence In Force
Fine & Cost Total 786.00 PROBATION FEE - ADU 20.00
DNA ANALYSIS FEE 250.00

10/21/2024 Sentencing
People present by MARK J. FLESZEWSKI, ERIN KRONE, and AMANDA
TASKER. Defendant present in custody of the Will County Sheriff,
Pro Se. Matter comes on for sentencing and defendant's motions for
new trial and arrest of judgment. Defendant is given leave to amend
motion for new trial. Motions are heard and are denied. Judgment of
Conviction is entered. Defendant is sentenced. Counts II and III
are merged into Count I. Appellate rights explained. Defendant
files notice of appeal. Clerk is instructed to prepare appeal.
Appellate Defender is appointed. Defendant remanded.

10/21/2024 Notice Of Appeal
10/21/2024 Memorandum Of Judgment
10/21/2024 Statement of Facts
10/21/2024 Order - Financial
10/21/2024 Judgment - Sentence - IDOC
10/21/2024 Amended Filing - Motion For New Trial

Link: iPublic

 

[Niner]

Thank you SO much for helping me with this case @faithx - it was very much appreciated! At least he is now in prison for 48 years! Only took 6 years to get here!