On July 19, 2023, the body of Montez Pearson, a 44-year-old resident of East St. Louis, was discovered deceased near Lunte Creek Road in rural northwest Nashville Township, Washington County, Illinois. The body was found at 8:44 p.m..
The cause of death was later determined to be a result of a shotgun wound to the head. The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation, assisted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, conducted an exhaustive investigation into Pearson's death.
Following the investigation, three men were arrested and charged in connection with Pearson's murder. The suspects are Arrion Sanders, 44, of East St. Louis; Milton E. Robinson, 57, of Belleville; and Kevin M. Loucks, 44, of Belleville. Each of the defendants was formally charged with three counts of first-degree murder in Washington County Court. The charges allege that the men committed the offense of first-degree murder on July 19, knowing the act would cause or had a strong probability of causing death.
The defendants were taken into custody between July 23 and 24, 2023. Bond was set at $1 million for each defendant. Robinson and Loucks had bond hearings via Zoom, where they were advised of their rights and possible sentences. Paige Strawn was appointed to represent Robinson, while Dennis Hatch was selected to defend Loucks. Initially, both were scheduled for a preliminary hearing on August 10, 2023.
In a subsequent development, Milton Robinson was found unfit to stand trial due to mental health issues. Following a professional evaluation, the court remanded him to the custody of the Department of Human Services for inpatient treatment, with the expectation that he could attain mental fitness within one year. Robinson is due back in Washington County Court for a status hearing on his treatment.
Kevin Loucks was found guilty of first-degree murder and is scheduled to be sentenced. Arrion Sanders is set to face an April jury trial in 2024.
The case remains ongoing, with updates expected as more information becomes available. A first-degree murder conviction in Illinois can result in a prison term ranging from 20 years to natural life in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
