Montez Pearson, 44, of East St. Louis, was found dead near Lunte Creek Road in rural northwest Nashville Township, Washington County, Illinois, on July 19, 2023. The body was discovered at 8:44 p.m., and the cause of death was later determined to be a shotgun wound to the head.

The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation, assisted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, investigated Pearson’s death. Three men were arrested and charged in Washington County Court: Arrion Sanders, 44, of East St. Louis; Milton E. Robinson, 57, of Belleville; and Kevin M. Loucks, 44, of Belleville. Each was charged with three counts of first-degree murder; all were taken into custody between July 23 and 24, 2023, and bond was set at $1 million each. Robinson and Loucks had bond hearings where attorneys were appointed for them. Robinson was later found unfit to stand trial and remanded to the Department of Human Services for inpatient treatment with a status hearing scheduled to review his fitness.

Kevin Loucks was found guilty of first-degree murder and is awaiting sentencing. Arrion Sanders is scheduled for a jury trial in April 2024. Anyone with information about Montez Pearson or the case is asked to come forward.