Illinois Supreme Court tosses Beaman appeal

Posted on November 24, 2017

By Patrick Baron

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court has tossed an appeal made by Alan Beaman, who claims three former Normal police officers pressured prosecutors to charge him with the death of his former girlfriend.

Beaman, 45, was convicted in 1995 of murdering his former girlfriend, Jennifer Lockmiller, who was a student at Illinois State University. Beaman served 13 years of a 50-year sentence before being released in 2008 following the Illinois Supreme Court’s reversal of his conviction.

In a Facebook post, Beaman wrote, “Since my release, I have pursued accountability in the Town of Normal and McLean County. Both state and federal courts have utterly failed to fulfill their responsibilities in this matter.”

Beaman claims now-retired police officers Tim Freesmeyer, Dave Warner and Frank Zayas, didn’t attempt to find other suspects based on evidence, but instead chose to focus on him as the primary suspect. Beaman wrote despite his claims, he doesn’t view all law enforcement officers as bad.

The appellate court has found no such evidence that supports Beaman’s claims.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].

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