EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — Months after two men were found dead miles apart in East St. Louis, authorities announced murder charges against a 35-year-old woman and 15-year-old boy.
Cierra Whitley, 35, and the teen, both of East St. Louis, are facing two counts each of first-degree murder.
On March 15, the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office charged Whitley, who was in custody on unrelated charges, and filed a juvenile petition against the 15-year-old, who was not named because of his age.
The boy was taken into custody on Tuesday.
According to Illinois State Police, its agents were called to assist the East St. Louis Police Department on Aug. 12 with a homicide investigation. Officers found Anthony Jackson, 64, of O'Fallon, Illinois, dead with multiple gunshot wounds in a vacant lot on the 1700 block of Ridge Avenue.
While they were investigating, they were notified another man had been found dead about 3 miles away. Willie Wallace, 74, of Swansea, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in the 700 block of North 55th Street.
A joint investigation between state police and East St. Louis police revealed the homicides were connected.
The boy was being detained at the St. Clair County Juvenile Detention Center. It was unclear where Whitley was being held.
