Spring Break
Date set for murder trial
Stste's Attorney deciding whether to seek death penalty in case
Meg McNichols
Issue date: 8/30/01 Section: News
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Wednesday’s conference was called to determine whether both attorneys would be prepared to take the case to trial, set for Sept. 18.
State’s Attorney Steve Ferguson said he would like another week to give notice to seek or decline the death penalty in Mertz’s case.
Mertz, 25, is represented by public defender Lonnie Lutz.
About 40 students attended the conference including members of the Alpha Phi Sorority, of which Shannon was a member.
Mertz is accused of murdering McNamara in her apartment, 1125 Fourth St., on June 12.
McNamara’s body was discovered by her roommate shortly before 9 a.m., according to police reports.
The Coles County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death as asphyxiation, or choking.
Mertz, also an Eastern student, was arrested after police found a Navy Federal Credit Union card in McNamara’s apartment with his name on it. Police reports said the card was bent in a way that suggested he had tried to to open the locked door with it.
A piece of latex glove also was found at McNamara’s apartment, which matched a glove later found at Mertz’s residence, located across the street.
Police also uncovered a Farberware brand knife with blood on it in a dumpster behind Mertz’s residence, which matched a set of Farberware knives found in McNamara’s apartment.
Mertz pleaded innocent at his arraignment. During questioning he told police that he had never met McNamara and had never been insider her apartment.
Mertz claimed he was at a party the night of the murder and spent the evening at his apartment afterwards.
According to police reports, Mertz’s body was photographed. Mertz had bruises on his arms and legs; scratches on his throat, torso and head; and fresh scrapes on both of his knees.
When police questioned the injuries, Mertz said he hurt himself after he had broken a shot glass earlier in the evening.
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