SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Tuesday marked the second day of the bench trial for Benjamin H. Reed, who is on trial for the stabbing murder of Diedre Silas in 2022.
On January 4th, 2022, Benjamin H. Reed allegedly killed Diedre Silas, a child protection specialist with DCFS. He was charged in with three counts of First-Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Battery, and unlawful restraint. Reed waived his right to trial by jury in December 2023.
According to court documents detailing an examination done by a forensic pathologist, Silas had 43 stab wounds oh her head, neck, chest and abdomen, and extremities. She also had sustained blunt force injuries to the head. The forensic pathologist said Silas died as a result of the blunt force trauma and sharp force injuries.
According to court documents, various psychiatrists had diagnosed Reed with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, cannabis abuse, nicotine dependency, and a personality disorder with antisocial and borderline traits.
During the pre-trial, Reed was evaluated by a forensic psychiatrist who made conclusions based on symptoms described by Reed. Reed said he hears and is controlled by five distinct voices in his head and suffers blackouts in which he is not control of himself or his actions.. The psychiatrist did not observe Reed dissociating or experiencing psychosis. The people allege that Reed's description of his symptoms and the incident have changed over time.
The people motioned for personality disorder testing to be done by an additional doctor. An order for testing was called by the judge on January thirty-first.
According to a pre-trial disclosure, Reed plans on pleading insanity or guilty, but mentally ill.
State attorney John Milhiser said that today the state presented evidence including testimonies from crime scene detectives, two adult eye witnesses in the home and a recorded interview of Reed.
The trial is expected to last four days. Milhiser said he expects closing arguments on Thursday. Tomorrow, two defense witnesses and state rebuttal witnesses will be appearing in court. The trial will start up again at 9 a.m. and is scheduled until 4:30 p.m.
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