People v. Jesse Landers 2023-CF-009
On May 8, 2025, Jesse Landers (DOB: 3/27/1981), formerly of Westville, Illinois, was sentenced to 45 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, to be served at 100%. Following a weeklong trial, a Vermilion County jury found Landers guilty of First Degree Murder on February 27, 2025. Landers will be required to serve 3 years of mandatory supervised release after his term of imprisonment. The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office Criminal Prosecutions and Trials Assistance Bureau, along with the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office. Judge Mark S. Goodwin presided over the trial and sentencing hearing.
During the trial, the People presented evidence that on the evening of January 3, 2023, Jesse Landers fatally stabbed John Carmean. Officers responded to the scene after receiving reports of the victim laying in the roadway. Despite his critical injuries, Mr. Carmean was able to identify Landers as the person who stabbed him. A short time later, Landers was located walking nearby.
During the sentencing hearing, John Carmean’s father delivered a victim impact statement, declaring to the defendant, “You said John was your friend. He would have given you the shirt off his back.”
State’s Attorney Lacy thanked Attorney General Kwame Raoul and his Trial Assistance staff for working with her office. The State’s Attorney also thanked the Danville Police Department for their thorough investigation. She added, “This was a senseless act of violence that took someone’s life far too soon. I hope this sentence brings some sense of justice and peace to the family of John Carmean.”
