DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — A mother and son convicted in the 1996 killing of Karyn Hearn Slover are asking for a new trial.
Jeannette Slover and Michael Slover, Jr. were convicted in 2002 for the murder of Michael Jr.'s wife, Karyn.
Michael Slover, Sr. was also convicted but died in prison in the summer of 2022.
With the help of the Illinois Innocence Project, the surviving Slovers have filed an Amended Petition for Post-Conviction Relief. If granted, the Slovers would have their convictions overturned and get a new trial.
The murder of Karyn Hearn Slover was the subject of local and national attention. The 23-year-old mother of one disappeared after leaving her job at the Decatur Herald and Review in September of 1996. Her dismembered body was found two days later in plastic bags at Lake Shelbyville.
After a years-long trial, her husband and his two parents were convicted in 2002.
The petition alleges that new DNA evidence is linked to three unknown men who could have committed the murder.
Related Links
- Man convicted in 1996 killing, dismemberment of his daughter-in-law found dead in prison
- Innocence Project Seeking to Appeal Convictions in Slover Case
- Judge rules evidence in 1996 Decatur murder worth DNA testing
- Evidence hearing Monday afternoon in Slover case
The petition also argues that Macon County convicted the Slovers based on bad scientific evidence.
"There were no eyewitnesses, no confession, no murder weapon, no DNA evidence. The case against the Slovers consisted of the forensic comparison of cinders and concrete, clothing fasteners, and dog hair. In the early 2000s, this so-called evidence was presented as new and novel scientific evidence. Now, more than two decades later, this “evidence” could only be considered new or novel because it was not, in fact, based on any real or existing science."
On Thursday during a Justice Committee Meeting, Macon County State's Attorney Scott Rueter said that he was bringing on former State's Attorney Jay Scott as an Assistant State's Attorney to help work on this case.
The case will be in court on April 4 for a status hearing.
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