New evidence present in 23-year old Bart McNeil murder case

Posted on April 22, 2022
Two Illinois groups that work to exonerate wrongful convictions are re-affirming the reasons the court should hear new and so-far unconsidered evidence in the case. (Photo courtesy Illinois Department of Corrections)

BLOOMINGTON (Heart of Illinois ABC) – There’s movement in Bart McNeil’s 23-year old McLean County murder case.

McNeil is serving a 100-year sentence for the murder of his three-year-old daughter Christina.

Two Illinois groups that work to exonerate wrongful convictions are re-affirming the reasons the court should hear new and so-far unconsidered evidence in the case.

The Illinois Innocence and Exoneration Projects filed the argument to move forward with McNeil’s evidentiary hearing. The state is asking to dismiss it.

From a prison in Southern Illinois, McNeil says he is grateful to the attorneys working for justice in his daughter’s murder.

“More than just their effort on my behalf, I think this is a big win or is going to potentially be a big win for justice,” McNeil told Heart of Illinois ABC.

McNeil’s attorneys argue the new and unheard evidence in the cases not only proves his innocence, but it points to his ex-girlfriend for the murder.

Misook Nowlin was convicted more than a decade later of another murder of her 70-yer-old mother-in-law. That case bears some similarities to the child’s death.

McNeil’s next hearing in this case is May 12th.

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