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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]
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