MACOMB, IL – Several pre-trial conferences were held in June and early July for five individuals who remain lodged in the county jail.
Keianna Miller, 38, of Macomb, appeared McDonough County Circuit Court Monday, June 23 for a hearing for aggravated domestic battery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon stemming from a June 6 skirmish in Macomb in which she allegedly stabbed a man in a domestic incident. During the June 23 hearing, Miller waived her right to a preliminary hearing; Public Defender Scott Terry withdrew from the case following the appointment of Marleen Suarez as Miller's attorney of record and Miller pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. It was determined that Miller should remain lodged in the McDonough County Jail. A pre-trial conference will be held in August.
Shaiking Mathis' ongoing case continued in McDonough County Circuit Court. On July 1, it was determined that continued detention was necessary and the case was continued to an August pre-trial conference. On June 20, a certified and proof of service of people's supplemental answer to discovery was filed by the state. At a May 20 pre-trial hearing the 38-yearold Macomb man took a delay on the speedy trial act. Mathis is accused of shooting two Macomb police officers who were serving a warrant at his Macomb residence Sept. 4.
Nicholas Lafary, 18, of Bushnell, appeared June 17 in McDonough County Circuit Court, on murder charges, with a plea hearing set for July 15. Lafary's co-defendant's (Davin Purden) was sentenced Jan. 28 to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, to be served at 100 percent. Patricia Purden, Davin's mother, has been charged with obstruction of justice/destroying evidence. She is free on $50,000 bond. Her status hearing was held May 5, with the case continued to July 9.
Miller
On June 6, Maurice Clay, 56, reported to police the told Miller to leave his residence about 3 a.m.; however, when he woke up at 5 a.m., he allegedly found she had returned to the home and was removing items from the refrigerator. After being told again to leave the residence, she purportedly stabbed Clay in the chest, back and left arm. He was taken to McDonough District Hospital where he was treated and released. Records indicate that Miller had also been removed by police from the residence, at Clay's request, May 25 and June 1. During her initial detention hearing, Public Defender Scott Terry requested the continuance for June 9 after learning Miller also has two pending cases in Marion County, IN. Records from mycase.In.gov show that the pending charges include an alleged November 2024 incident for 'battery resulting in moderate bodily injury' and 'disorderly conduct: engaging in fighting or tumultuous conduct' and a reported March 2025 for 'identity deception' and 'operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.'
Mathis
Following extensive negotiations and a 20-hour standoff with law enforcement, Mathis, of 309 N. Normal St., surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody around 2:30 p.m. Sept. 5. He has been charged with four counts of aggravated battery to a police officer, one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon after he allegedly shot and injured Det. Nick Severs and Sgt. J.P. McLaughlin, who, along with other Macomb Police Department (MPD) officers, were serving a search warrant for a sexual assault, which purportedly took place at the home earlier that day.
At the initial detention hearing Sept. 6, the state's attorney shared after Mathis' arrest, a search of the home was conducted and police found two firearms and several rounds of live ammunition. Mathis, who has been convicted of felonies in Kenosha, WI (2004) and Cook County (2010), is not allowed by law to possess firearms.
Lafary
Purden and Lafary went to the Bushnell home of Travis Purden, Davin's father, on June 2, 2023 and killed the 43-year-old. During the afternoon hours of June 2, the elder Purden was found deceased in his home as a result of being shot several times in the face. (Davin) Purden later admitted in court that he and Lafary were at his father's trailer, and that he went to the home with the intention of killing his father.
