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View Full Version : Steve Watkins, 32 yrs. old, Chandlerville, IL Murdered


desmom
05-25-2009, 10:51 PM
Steve Watkins of Chandlerville, IL was murdered in November 2008 in Ashland, IL at his estranged wife’s grandparents’ home.

Ashland shooting death called homicide
http://www.sj-r.com/archive/x1720671125/Ashland-shooting-death-called-homicide

In January 2009, a coroner's jury declared Mr. Watkins' death a homicide. He died from a single gunshot wound to the back of his head. He was shot with a 9 mm Glock Model 17C, which was found on a cardboard box quite a distance from the body, Birdsell testified. The bullet traveled upward, entering the base of Watkins skull and lodging inside his head, Birdsell told the jury. http://www.sj-r.com/archive/x497798731/Coroners-jury-rules-on-Ashland-shooting-case-still-no-arrests

At the time of the shooting, Steve Watkins, his estranged wife, Jennifer Watkins, her grandparents and the couple’s 2 year old daughter were present in the home. http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/jury-21045-ashland-rules.html

http://www.sj-r.com/archive/x1237129699/Relatives-say-mans-love-for-daughter-cost-him-his-life
Bob Daniel, a paramedic summoned from Virginia, about a dozen miles from Ashland, said the scene was “mostly chaotic” when he arrived in response to a report of an elderly woman complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath. Watkins was dead on the floor, Daniel said, but no one had yet called the coroner. About a dozen people were in the house, he said.

“The family at the scene were primarily interested in (the elderly woman’s) medical condition,” Daniel said. “I think they called family before they called anyone else. The house was full. They were all cordoned off in another room — I assume the police chief did that. I made the first call to the coroner.”

On May 11, the headlines read: Daughter, widow of slain man move out of state http://www.sj-r.com/archive/x2133280574/Daughter-widow-of-slain-man-move-out-of-state The county state’s attorney told Steve's mother Penny Watkins. “They just keep telling us that they’re working on it, be patient.”

From the link Shirley Skinner, Jennifer Watkins’ grandmother, has also retained an attorney who concentrates on criminal defense.

Finally May 15, Ashland shooting turned over to state agencyhttp://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/judge-22498-circuit-appointed.html

Cass County Circuit Judge Bob Hardwick Jr. has issued an order appointing the Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor to handle the investigation and prosecution of the homicide of Steven Watkins nearly six months ago in Ashland, the court confirmed Friday.

I am sorry this is so long. I followed the case in the beginning and figured with only 4 adults in the house and one of them being deceased, this would be solved rather quickly. It has recently become a very hot topic on local talk radio and several local blog sights.

Hopefully the the special prosecutor can give Steve Watkins' family some closure.

:rose: Steven Paul Watkins

Casspian
05-26-2009, 02:33 AM
Strange, there is no mention of what might have happened or what his estranged wife, etc. even said? It doesn't seem plausible that a stranger killed him though, does it?

desmom
05-26-2009, 07:42 AM
Strange, there is no mention of what might have happened or what his estranged wife, etc. even said? It doesn't seem plausible that a stranger killed him though, does it?

No it doesn't.

http://www.sj-r.com/archive/x1621260615/Police-search-Ashland-home-where-man-was-shot-dead reported there were no GSR tests done on anyone in the home.

desmom
05-26-2009, 08:44 AM
A local talk radio host covered the story a couple of days in Mid-May. Here are links to articles about Steve Watkins on the radio host's blog site done before a special prosecutor was appointed to the investigation:

Right between Mayberry and Pixley you’ll find Ashland
http://dimfi.com/?p=537

Getting away with murder (part 2)…
http://dimfi.com/?p=538

The radio station he works for played his shows from earlier this month again yesterday. It was the lst time I heard the shows. The tapes included calls from people that called in during the original show. He received a couple "if you know what is good for you, you will drop this" type calls.

desmom
08-26-2009, 10:48 AM
Hundreds attend vigil for Ashland murder victim
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1886182710/Hundreds-attend-vigil-for-Ashland-murder-victim


Steven Watkins Vigil
http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_411.shtml

desmom
09-30-2009, 05:02 PM
‘Dateline NBC’ to feature Ashland killing
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1991992444/-Dateline-NBC-to-air-report-on-Ashland-shooting

“Our interest stems from the nature of this crime — a devoted father shot in the back of his head, allegedly over a dispute about his baby, in the home of his estranged wife’s family — and yet almost a year later, no one has been charged despite the outrage of his family and the support of his community,” wrote Jenny Tartikoff, NBC publicist, in an email to The State Journal-Register.

desmom
10-05-2009, 07:12 PM
Grandmother arrested in Ashland shooting death
http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x576538817/State-police-to-announce-arrest-in-Ashland-shooting-death

fastpitch
10-05-2009, 10:20 PM
Why was she arrested? I didn't know there was a warrant out for anyone.

And on A $5M bond?

I mean, here was a guy dead at a nice home and no one seemed to know anything about it, accept that "grandma" was having heart palpitations. Why arrest her, now? What was she doing in FL.?

desmom
10-05-2009, 10:52 PM
Why was she arrested? I didn't know there was a warrant out for anyone.

And on A $5M bond?

I mean, here was a guy dead at a nice home and no one seemed to know anything about it, accept that "grandma" was having heart palpitations. Why arrest her, now? What was she doing in FL.?

Last week area radio stations reported Illinois State Police were now involved in the investigation.

http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x576538817/State-police-to-announce-arrest-in-Ashland-shooting-death
Illinois State Police announced Monday afternoon that Shirley J. Skinner, 74, was arrested earlier in the day in Florida on charges she shot and killed her granddaughter's estranged husband, Stephen P. Watkins (inset) last year in Ashland.

Skinner was being held on $5 million bond in Pinellas County, Fla., where she was arrested after a traffic stop earlier Monday.

Snyders also said the investigation is ongoing, there could be more arrests ...

fastpitch
10-05-2009, 11:45 PM
This says that she was arrested exiting a restaurant.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/74-year-old-seminole-woman-charged-in-illinois-murder/1041793

janesdeaan
10-06-2009, 12:16 AM
Why was she arrested? I didn't know there was a warrant out for anyone.

And on A $5M bond?

I mean, here was a guy dead at a nice home and no one seemed to know anything about it, accept that "grandma" was having heart palpitations. Why arrest her, now? What was she doing in FL.?

I read that he was meeting his estranged wife at her grandmothers home to pick up his daughter for his weekend visitation. He was shot at Skinners home, after the shooting she (Skinner) had "heart palpitations"....hmmm..wonder what brought that on ? That bond sure is high !

desmom
10-06-2009, 10:49 PM
Grandmother returning to Illinois to face murder charges
http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x576540329/Grandma-waives-extradition-from-Florida-to-Illinois

desmom
10-08-2009, 12:34 AM
Ashland grandmother returns to Illinois to face murder charge
http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x593074580/Ashland-grandma-returns-to-Illinois-to-face-murder-charge

KittyMom
10-08-2009, 12:46 AM
I saw this story on Fox earlier. I have to wonder...did the grandmother really do the shooting or is she just going to take the blame for someone else in that house?

KittyMom
10-08-2009, 11:29 PM
http://stevenwatkins.blogspot.com/

Site for Steve

KittyMom
10-08-2009, 11:38 PM
http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/murder-24029-watkins-.html

Penny Watkins said she is not critical of the Ashland Police Department’s handling of the investigation. The arrest came less than a week after Illinois State Police were formally called into the case.

“They have limited resources and I would like to see the Illinois State Police automatically called in in such cases,” she said.


This lady is nicer than I would be. They knew the first night they had limited resources. State LE should've been called in right then. And I agree with the town folk. That family should never have been allowed to leave the scene without giving statements.

desmom
10-10-2009, 10:58 AM
Ashland grandma requests speedy trial
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1692327579/Ashland-grandmother-requests-speedy-murder-trial