Coles County Jury Returns Guilty Verdict for Man Accused of Murder

Tuesday, 22 August 2023

A Charleston man has been found guilty of murder.

On Monday, a Coles County jury found 28-year-old Jonathan Fairchild guilty of first degree murder and concealment of homicidal death.

According to court records, Fairchild was on trial for stabbing Cheleta Branch to death in April of 2021.

Police said they executed a search warrant for a wellness check on his home on the 800 block of Jackson Avenue on April 25th, 2021.

Branch's mother Claudine Kent had called police and said her daughter lived at that location and that she hadn't heard from her in a month.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers found Branch's body under a tarp and clothing pile in the home, said police.

Fairchild later admitted to using a mop and towels to clean up the scene, said authorities.

He is set to be sentenced on November 3rd.

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