Six charged in torture murder of Alton woman and her unborn child
- Original Belleville News-Democrat article: Six charged in torture murder of Alton woman and her unborn child
A household of people has been charged in connection with torturing a pregnant woman by beating, burning and shooting her with a BB gun in the weeks leading up to her Jan. 31 bludgeoning death.
Six people, including three teenagers and a 12-year-old, have been charged in the killing of Dorothy Dixon, 29, of Alton, and her six-month-old fetus. Police said the weeks-long brutality occurred at the home they shared at 2957 Hillcrest St. in Alton.
Last month, Judy E. Woods, 43, of Alton, was charged with first-degree murder and intentional homicide of an unborn child after police said she bludgeoned Dixon to death after the two apparently got into an argument.
An autopsy revealed that Dixon died from a combination of being shot multiple times with a BB gun, scalded with hot liquids and beaten about the head and body at various times over the four- to eight-week-period before her death, Alton Police Lt. David Hayes said.
On Thursday, a Madison County grand jury indicted the others: Michelle K. Riley, 35; Michael J. Elliott, 18; Leshelle N. McBride, 15; and Benny Lee Wilson, 16. All lived with Dixon, except Elliott who had a relationship with one of the residents, police said. Each is charged with four counts of first-degree murder; one count of intentional homicide of an unborn child; one count of heinous battery; two counts of aggravated battery and one count of unlawful restraint.
The Juvenile Division of the Madison County States Attorney's Office also charged Riley's 12-year-old son, who is being held in a juvenile detention center. Details of the charges against the juvenile were unavailable.
Detectives from Alton and Quincy arrested the suspects Friday morning. Bail for each person was set at $1 million. Riley and Elliott are being held at the Madison County Jail; Wilson and McBride are charged as adults but are being held at a juvenile detention center.
Woods has been held without bail since Feb. 1 at the Madison County Jail.
Contact reporter Maria Baran at mbaran@bnd.com or 239-2460.
Copyright © 2008 Belleville News-Democrat, All Rights Reserved.
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