Sixty-two year olds Gregory and Brenda Barnes gave their lives to protect their daughter, according to State’s Attorney Todd Martin’s opening statement in the trial for 38-year old Donald Fredres. Martin said Tuesday, when Fredres couldn’t get his ex-wife’s address from them, he shot and killed them. When Fredres discovered her address anyway, he allegedly fired numerous shots into her home to try to kill her.
Police officers testifying Tuesday afternoon described two crime scenes. One was on Church St. in Sheridan where the ex-wife, Jenell Johnson, lived. The other was on County Highway 3 where the Barneses lived. An Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigator testified about the bullets and bullet damage found throughout the Church St. house.
Some of the damage was in a child’s bedroom. Johnson testified about getting her daughter out of the room and into a bathroom for safety. Prosecutors played the 911 call Johnson made when Fredres allegedly showed up at the home.
Audio PlayerMartin told jurors, Fredres didn’t expect to live long past the crime and that he had written an explanation he intended to be found on his body. Martin says the letter speaks of numerous personal problems and claims Fredres’s family had turned against him.
Public Defender Ryan Hamer didn’t offer an alibi for his client. He told the jurors to remember that a defendant is entitled to a presumption of innocence and they should consider the evidence carefully. He said the prosecutors wouldn’t be able to meet the burden of proving Fredres guilty.
Testimony is to continue Wednesday morning.
Steven Devine contributed to this story.