Man gets 4 and a half years in prison for covering up homicide of Decatur woman

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - A man accused of helping cover up the murder of a Decatur woman has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

The November 2020 disappearance of Norma Crutchfield led police to two suspects, 45-year-old Troy D. Slaw and 23-year-old Chase Freeman. According to a sworn affidavit, Freeman told authorities he helped move Crutchfield's body from a closet to a bathroom at Slaw's home that had been lined with shower curtains, window curtains and plastic.

Slaw, who is charged with murder in the case, asked Freeman to help dispose of the body, authorities said. Freeman stood guard on the porch for Slaw as Crutchfield's body was dismembered, the affidavit added.

Freeman was initially charged with dismembering a human body and concealment of a homicidal death. He initially entered a plea of not guilty but later changed that plea to guilty.

As a part of a plea agreement, one charge was dropped.

Freeman will get credit for time served from May 4, 2022, through August 20, 2024. He is day for day eligible and also got credit for 38 trustee days after the application of good time.

That means he will have less than four months to serve.

Slaw is still facing an upcoming trial.