17-year-old could be tried as adult for ISU student’s death

Posted on January 5, 2018
Police car
An Illinois State University student was shot and killed in Hancock County on Monday. (Photo by DavidsonScott/flickr)

By Eric Stock

CARTHAGE, Ill. – Prosecutors in Western Illinois have filed first-degree murder charges against a teenager in the death of an Illinois State University student.

The Quincy Herald-Whig reports the Hancock County State’s Attorney is asking the court to try the 17-year-old alleged assailant as an adult for 19-year-old Madison Finch’s death.

Police say Finch was shot and killed at a party in her hometown of LaHarpe on New Year’s Day. Finch’s obituary said she had just finished her first semester at ISU and her goal was to become a nurse so she could help children who were battling cancer.

ISU spokesman Eric Jome said Finch was a biological sciences major. He added the university’s Student Counseling Services office is available to assist students who are impacted by this tragic situation.

“We always encourage anyone impacted by something like this to reach out for help,” Jome said in an emailed statement. “Losing a member of the Redbird family is always difficult and the University extends its condolences to Maddie’s family and friends.”

Funeral services for Finch will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the LaHarpe Christian Church

The judge will consider the prosecution’s request at a hearing on Jan. 23. The suspect has been booked at the Hancock County Jail, but is being segregated from the adult population.

 

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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