DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – A Macon County judge heard expert testimony Thursday in the ongoing DNA battle surrounding the murder of Karyn Hearn Slover.
The Exoneration Project is working alongside the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP) in an effort to exonerate members of the Slover family, who were convicted in 2002 of killing Hearn Slover in 1996. Michael Slover, Jeanette Slover, and Michael Slover Jr. were all found guilty of murder.
Michael Slover Jr. in the courtroom on Jan. 22, 2026. (WAND Photo)
In early June, the Illinois Innocence Project filed a motion asking the Illinois State Police (ISP) to submit DNA profiles into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in hopes of identifying the true killer or killers of Karyn Hearn Slover.
According to IIP's filing, forensic testing revealed three separate DNA profiles on key pieces of evidence. Two profiles were found on duct tape used to seal bags containing Karyn's remains, and another profile was discovered on fingerprints located next to a stain of Karyn's blood on the Lake Shelbyville bridge.
Although IIP has repeatedly asked the court to order ISP to submit the DNA samples, ISP has declined to do so for several years. ISP has maintained its reason for not submitting the profiles is that it does not know how or by whom the evidence was handled, and that the DNA samples did not originate from a law enforcement agency.
On Thursday, IIP called three witnesses to the stand. The first, Monica Hawkins. She was involved in the Slover's post-conviction relief. She testified to the court about how the DNA was handled in 2014 after a judge granted DNA testing.Â
The second is a DNA expert from BODI. She testified to the handling and testing of the DNA. She testified that the DNA collected from the duct tape and bridge did not belong to the Slover family or Karyn.Â
The third, Alan Keel, is a DNA analyst. He testified that the DNA tested by BODI did not belong to the Slovers or Karyn. He also testified that in his expert opinion, the DNA collected and tested met the requirements to be submitted to CODIS, despite ISP's objection.Â
The Illinois Attorney General's Office questioned each of IIP's witnesses about the possibility of the evidence collected in 1996 being contaminated.Â
Former Macon County State's Attorney Jay Scott, who returned from retirement to represent the prosecution, has also filed motions seeking to dismiss the case entirely. Scott has consistently maintained that the Slover family is responsible for Karyn's 1996 death.
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