This piece was updated as of 1/18 at 1:55pm to make a correction.
Correction: The Northern Star previously wrote that jury selection will last until Jan. 28 or Jan. 29. Jury selection is expected to finish by Jan. 22 and the trial is anticipated to conclude by the end of the month, according to the State’s Attorney.
DeKALB – Almost a decade after a mother and son were killed in their Sycamore home, the man accused of their deaths will face trial next week in DeKalb County.
The trial will begin with jury selection at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in courtroom 220 of the DeKalb County Courthouse, located at 133 W. State St in Sycamore.
Jonathan Hurst was arrested in Cincinnati in 2020 and charged with the murder of 85-year-old Patricia Wilson and her son, 64-year-old Robert Wilson.
The Wilsons were last seen at their church Aug. 14, 2016. Sometime that evening, police believe Hurst beat Patricia and Robert Wilson to death, stole their car and drove to his home in Chicago.
The Wilson’s vehicle was found abandoned near the Lincoln Park Zoo. Hurst was arrested in 2020 after his DNA was matched to his relatives in a public database and the search was narrowed to him.
The Wilson’s were active members of the Sycamore community; Robert was a longtime volunteer for the Sycamore Moose Lodge and Patricia was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.
According to police, cell phone records also confirmed Hurst was in the area the day of the murders.
A timeline of the investigation shows the Wilson’s Impala was recorded traveling East on Rt. 64 at 12:44 a.m on Aug. 15.
Authorities believe the murders were a random act of violence, with no known connection between Hurst and the Wilsons.
Hurst, originally charged on 16 counts, attended a pretrial hearing Wednesday. He appeared in an orange jumpsuit and was escorted by two police officers. The original charges included 12 counts of murder, criminal trespass, home invasion, residential burglary and receipt or possession of a stolen vehicle.
The charges reflect differing degrees of intent and mental state at the time of the crime.
Assistant state’s attorney Scott Schwertley said the state is proceeding on four murder charges and the home invasion charge. According to the state, if convicted of both murder charges, Hurst could serve a life sentence.
Both parties agreed to pre-trial rules and jury selection procedures.
Hurst will be allowed to wear street clothes and brought to court in person, according to a continuance order filed Wednesday.
The case has been subject to multiple delays based on challenges to admissibility of evidence, trial cancellations and pandemic related setbacks. The jury trial was originally scheduled in April 2024, then June, until being moved to Tuesday.
The witness lists include Sycamore residents, retired DeKalb and NIU police officers, police officers of departments in the surrounding Chicago area and other individuals associated with the case.
Judge Marcy Buick asked both parties if any plea deals were offered.
Preliminary conversations were not fruitful and no valid offers were made by the state, Hurst’s attorney Charles Criswell said.
As a result, each side agreed they are ready to proceed to trial.
Buick asked Hurst to confirm he knew what consequences followed if the trial proceeded without a deal. Hurst responded affirmatively.
Jury selection is expected to last until Jan. 21 or 22 and the trial is anticipated to end by the end of the month.
During the trial, prosecutors will be allowed to show evidence images on TV screens.
