Jurors in a Danville murder trial heard from an Illinois State Police Crime Scene Specialist Thursday. Sergeant Tim LeMasters told about gathering what appeared to be charred bones, burnt rubber, and burned carpet from an area outside a vacant home off Lyons Street in Danville. It was November 8, 2017 when LeMasters recovered the items as part of the prosecution’s case against Ocheil Keys of Danville. Keys is currently on trial on murder and concealing a homicidal death charges in connection with the death of 50-year-old Barbara Rose.
Testimony at the trial indicated Keys and Rose had been living together as boyfriend and girlfriend when she disappeared.
Sergeant LeMasters said there was a strong odor of gasoline in the area where the items were recovered. And he told jurors the items believed to be bones were sent to a pathologist in Bloomington for examination.
Jurors were also told by Sergeant LeMasters that three dilapidated and vacant homes near the intersection of Lyons and Clements Streets were searched but nothing of interest was found inside. But he added there appeared to have been a large fire outside one of the homes.
Defense attorney Sandra Lawlyes objected at times to the items being admitted as evidence. She said the prosecution does not know the origin of the suspected carpet or plastic that was introduced. And when asked by Lawlyes, Sergeant LeMasters told jurors he cannot say exactly when the fire was set.
The trial is continuing in Vermilion County Circuit Court.
