A Will County judge has found Bethany McKee, one of four suspects in the brutal murder of two men in Joliet, guilty of first-degree murder.
Judge Gerald Kinney issued the guilty verdict Friday morning, despite the fact that McKee wasn't present in the room during the killings.
McKee, 20, is one of four people charged in the January 2013 deaths of Eric Glover and Terrance Rankins, both 22. Police say the victims were lured to the house, robbed and strangled, and then the suspects played video games until police arrived.
"[McKee] assisted the other individuals by helping place a Jewel bag over the head of Terrance Rankins and holding a lamp so that the bag could be placed on the victim's head," the ruling stated. "She also seemed upset in her interview when she realized there was more money stolen from these victims that (sic) she was told. She volunteered to search the vehicle of Eric Glover and removed from that vehicle stuffed animals and CDs, apparently for her use or her child's use."
Closing arguments were conducted earlier this month with defense attorney Charles Bretz arguing there is no evidence linking McKee to the murders.
Prosecutors showed the videotape of McKee's police interrogation in which she's heard saying she "knew what was going on" and "we can just beat them up and kill them."
But McKee's attorney pointed out that the tape also shows her saying she didn't remember what happened that day.
Also charged, but still awaiting trial, are Adam Landerman and Joshua Miner, both of Joliet. McKee’s former friend, Alissa Massaro, pleaded guilty to robbery and concealment of a homicidal death in exchange for a 10-year prison sentence and testified against McKee in the trial.
Glover's mother, Nicole Jones, spoke to reporters outside the courthouse earlier this month.
"I think she should get life just like the rest. I think she should get life without parole. That's what I think she should get," Jones said. "They took the best thing that ever happened to me ... their sisters and brothers away from them. They took the best person that we had and they destroyed my family."
A sentencing hearing is set for Oct. 16.
