Jackson County State's Attorney's Office

10/19/2026

On Tuesday, October 6, Betty Akamani, 35, of Murphysboro, was arraigned in Jackson County Circuit Court on a grand jury indictment in connection with the September 19 shooting death of her husband, Kofi Akamani.

The indictment includes two counts of first degree murder and one count of endangering the life or health of a child.

Ms. Akamani entered a plea of not guilty and requested a jury trial. Judge Joshua Stratemeyer set the following dates:

Final pretrial: October 27
Status hearing: November 9
Jury trial: November 16

Our thoughts remain with the Akamani family, Dr. Akamani's colleagues and students at Southern Illinois University, and everyone in our community who is grieving this loss.

An indictment is a formal accusation, not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

https://loom.ly/hnH8CzI

A jury trial has been scheduled in the murder case involving the death of a Southern Illinois University professor, with the suspect entering a not guilty plea.

10/16/2026

On Monday, Marcus Moultrie pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder in the death of 8-year-old Leland "Lee" Arnett and the attack on Leland's mother.

The charges stem from a violent attack in De Soto on May 13. Leland and his mother were both seriously injured and flown to a St. Louis hospital. Leland died four days later. His mother survived.

Moultrie entered an open plea, which means there is no agreement between the State and the defense on his sentence. The judge will decide it. The court found the plea was made knowingly and voluntarily, and the bench trial that had been scheduled was canceled. Moultrie also admitted to a sentencing enhancement tied to the murder charge.

Sentencing is set for December 4. The court ordered a presentence investigation, and Moultrie remains in custody.

Leland should be here. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone in De Soto who loved him. We will continue to stand with them through sentencing.

https://loom.ly/QDNkYlo

MURPHYSBORO — Marcus Moultrie submitted an open plea to the Jackson County court on Monday, admitting to murder and attempted murder charges.

10/07/2026

Is your voter registration up to date?

If you've moved, changed your name, or aren't sure you're registered, now is a good time to check. It takes about two minutes.

Check your registration: https://loom.ly/SyK9fi0

Register or update your registration: https://loom.ly/XVTHPTk

Online registration in Illinois closes at 11:59 PM on Sunday, October 18. After that, you can still register in person during grace period registration, including on Election Day.

To vote in Illinois, you must:
Be a U.S. citizen
Be 18 by Election Day (16-year-olds can preregister)
Have lived in your precinct for at least 30 days before Election Day

Questions? Contact the Jackson County Clerk's office.
https://loom.ly/XVTHPTk

10/07/2026

Low-cost pet vaccines are coming to Jackson County.

Wright-Way Rescue holds a Low-Cost Vaccination Clinic on the second Friday of every month. The next one is Friday, October 9, from 8 AM to 3 PM.

FREE for dogs and cats:
Distemper vaccines (including parvo/distemper for dogs)
Heartworm tests for dogs

Wellness packages:
Dogs: $85 (exam, rabies, parvo/distemper, lepto, bordetella, heartworm test, and dewormer)
Cats: $45 (exam, rabies, distemper, and dewormer)

Microchips, FIV/FeLV tests, individual vaccines, and flea, tick, and heartworm prevention are also available.

Where: Wright-Way Rescue, 8459 Old Hwy 13, Murphysboro
Book an appointment: (618) 319-4271

Please bring dogs on a leash and cats in a carrier. Share this with a pet owner who could use it.

10/05/2026

On September 19, Jackson County's first responders handled two emergencies in one day.

Overnight, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office led a search near Kincaid Lake for a missing woman. The Ava, Campbell Hill, MPS, and Murphysboro Fire Departments, Jackson County EMA, Illinois State Police, and IDNR searched with them. By morning she was safe and back with her family.

That evening, deputies responded to a shooting in Murphysboro, secured the scene, and started the investigation our office now carries into court.

Thank you to every deputy, firefighter, EMT, dispatcher, and emergency manager who showed up that day. Thank you also to the Paul Ice Road neighbor who spotted the missing woman and called it in.

https://loom.ly/f6V8wJg

The search is over for a missing woman in southern Illinois.

10/02/2026

On September 21, the Jackson County State's Attorney's Office charged Betty Akamani, 35, of Murphysboro, with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of endangering the life or health of a child.

The charges stem from a shooting on the evening of September 19 at a home on Anthony Drive in Murphysboro. Dr. Kofi Akamani, 48, a forestry professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, was taken to a Carbondale hospital, where he died.

The State filed a petition to detain the defendant, and the Court granted it. She remains in the Jackson County Jail. A preliminary hearing is set for October 6.

Our thoughts are with Dr. Akamani's family, friends, colleagues, and students, and with the entire SIU community. We are grateful to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office for their response and ongoing investigation.

A charge is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

https://loom.ly/FgRo8t0

Officials have released new information about a shooting Saturday evening in southern Illinois.

09/30/2026

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09/28/2026

Healing doesn’t happen overnight, it is cultivated. Families, friends, schools, workplaces, and communities all play a role in helping recovery grow after a su***de attempt or su***de loss. Call, text or chat with 988. https://loom.ly/yjnTbx0

09/25/2026

The Carbondale Police Department is asking for the public's help with information about a fatal crash that occurred Friday, September 11, 2026, at approximately 8:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of West Main Street in Carbondale.

Wayne A. Aydt, 59, of Johnston City, was traveling west on a motorcycle when it collided with a car. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. The Illinois State Police handled the crash reconstruction.

If you were in the area, saw the crash, or have any information that could assist investigators, please contact:

Carbondale Police Department: 618-549-2121
Carbondale-SIU Crime Stoppers (anonymous): 618-549-2677
Murphysboro-Jackson County Crime Stoppers (anonymous): 618-687-2677

Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information that leads to an arrest. Our thoughts are with Mr. Aydt's family and friends.

https://loom.ly/nAI2Eas

09/24/2026

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