In the early morning hours of February 1, 2026, the quiet community of Belle Rive, Illinois, was disturbed by a grim discovery. A 911 call led Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies to a parking lot on East Bonnie Road, where they found the body of 47-year-old James D. Cross. An autopsy would later confirm that the Dahlgren man had died from multiple gunshot wounds, launching a homicide investigation into his death.
The investigation quickly focused on someone from James's past. Detectives identified 31-year-old Jasmine L. Farny, also from Dahlgren, as a person of interest. Authorities revealed that Farny and Cross had been in a dating relationship at one time. After two separate interviews with investigators, Farny was taken into custody in connection with Cross's death.
Following her arrest, Jasmine L. Farny was charged with first-degree murder. She is currently being held in the Jefferson County Jail as she awaits a pretrial detention hearing. While a past relationship has been mentioned by authorities, the specific motive for the shooting and the details of what transpired in the final moments of James D. Cross's life remain part of the ongoing investigation. Law enforcement has not released further information regarding the evidence that led to Farny's arrest.
