SHERIDAN, Ill. (WLS) — A day long manhunt ended Thursday, after a double murder and house fire in the village of Sheridan in LaSalle County.
Investigators are interviewing the 45-year-old suspect to figure out why the tragedy happened.
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Legal records reveal that Ronald Martin from Sheridan faces charges for shooting two individuals, whom authorities named as Sidney Schlitz and Melissa Vissman.
The 45-year-old was arrested after a manhunt that lasted several hours. He was discovered concealed in the underbrush on his family’s rural property in LaSalle, situated approximately 30 miles from the location of the crime.
“We secured a search warrant for a location in LaSalle on East 3rd Road,” stated LaSalle County Undersheriff David Ortiz. “The area contained vehicles, trailers, and buildings owned by the Martin family. The suspect was located hiding and was apprehended without any trouble.”
At a press conference Friday morning, prosecutors said Martin had a dating relationship with Vissman.
“The house was dealing with a lot of narcotics, money so it may be an argument over theft, stealing of drugs or money/ We don’t know that,” LaSalle County State’s Attorney John Navarro said.
Martin now faces six counts of murder charges.
Sheriff’s deputies said this all unfolded after two people were found dead at this home in Sheridan
Just after 1 a.m. Thursday police got reports of shots fired and later reports about a fire at the home. Once the fire was out, police found the two victims.
Sheriff’s deputies said two other people said they escaped, one was injured by shrapnel.
Investigators said Martin drove away in a red Dodge Ram pickup truck. But they tracked him down to a large lot owned by his family, with help from U.S. Marshals and Illinois State Police.
“With the help of air ops, which is the Illinois State Police plane, basically, up in the sky we were able to locate his vehicle on the property,” Undersheriff Ortiz said.
Martin waived his right for an immediate hearing for a pre–trial release and is scheduled to appear in court in August 21.
Authorities said there are two eyewitnesses who were home at the time of the shooting.
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