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| Cellmates testify about confession |
| By mcdonoughvoice.com - Nathan Woodside |
| Published: 08/31/2011 |
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Monmouth, Ill. — Two jailhouse acquaintances of a man accused of killing his former girlfriend’s 5-year-old daughter testified Tuesday that he admitted to the crime while behind bars on methamphetamine charges. Daniel Belknap, 33, is charged in the 2006 beating death of Silven Yocum, daughter of live-in girlfriend Erin Yocum, at his home just south of Macomb. A previous change of venue motion moved the trial to Monmouth. The prosecution continued its case Tuesday in Warren County, highlighted by the testimony of two men jailed with Belknap who say he confessed to beating the girl while paranoid following a methamphetamine binge. One of the men, Jeffery Ahlers, says Belknap confided that Erin was present when the alleged beating occurred. Ahlers, currently in the Illinois Department of Corrections on forgery charges, told the court that he met Belknap while attending drug treatment programs in the Tazewell County federal holding facility in Pekin. Under questioning from Special Prosecutor Ed Parkinson, Ahlers testified that following one session, where the topic of discussion was on how methamphetamine damaged their families, he and Belknap began discussing religion. According to the witness, Belknap asked about going to heaven. Ahlers replied that he felt anyone who doesn’t break one of the “serious” Ten Commandments would be heaven-bound. Ahlers testified that Belknap then became visibly upset, was sobbing, and confided that he had hit Silven several times while “tweaking” on methamphetamine. Ahlers said Belknap was afraid that Silven had or was going to tell her DARE officer at school that he used methamphetamine. Ahlers said Belknap told him he slapped and pushed Silven while Erin watched the scene and was “in the corner, freaking out.” “It was just out of the blue,” Ahlers said. “I wish I never heard it.” On cross examination, defense attorney Dan Fultz made attempts to cut down the credibility of Ahlers. He began with the witness’s long criminal history marred with forgery charges in several counties across the state and five stints in prison. Under questioning, Ahlers said when McDonough County Sheriff Rick VanBrooker was transporting him to the McDonough County Jail to face forgery charges, the sheriff asked him if he knew anything about Belknap. Ahlers replied that he didn’t. The witness testified that during his stay in the McDonough County Jail, just before Christmas and one week after Belknap had been indicted on the murder charge, he decided to tell authorities about the admission. Ahlers said the thought of Christmas contributed to his decision to say something. “Somebody had to stand up,” he said. Fultz noted in questioning that prior to Ahlers’ statements to police, he was paired in jail with two prisoners who had knowledge of Belknap’s situation. Read More. |
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