Joliet Murder Defendant Plans To Spend More Time In Jail: Here's Why

JOLIET, IL — With this week's murder trial at the Will County Courthouse about to begin, long-time Joliet murder defendant Deiontae Shawnrico McMillian decided to ask Will County Judge Carmen Goodman to let him hire private defense counsel after going without one for the past several years.

The judge agreed with McMillian's request, and she canceled plans to begin this week's jury trial in Courtroom 503 for McMillian, who is accused of taking the life of a suburban dancer, Danica Ford, and dumping her body in a shallow grave here in Joliet, along West Jefferson Street at the wooded area near the Woodlawn Memorial Park II.

An off-duty Joliet police officer who was out hunting came across Ford's body in November 2018. The Will County Sheriff's Office detectives took over the investigation because the land wehre the body was found is actually outside city of Joliet limits. The sheriff's detectives captured McMillian back in his native Fayetteville, North Carolina, and he's remained in the Will County Jail since Dec. 15, 2018, which is five years plus a month.

Now, McMillian is comfortable with the prospect of staying locked up in the county jail for another seven months, at minimum.

According to this week's ruling, Judge Goodman noted that McMillian appeared before her for trial and while he was self-represented, the first-degree murder defendant made a motion to continue his trial date. The Will County State's Attorney's Office offered no objections.

The subpoenas issued for several jury trial witnesses have been delayed until the next trial date for McMillian, which is now listed as August 5. These days, McMillian is 29 years old.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Dancer Didn't Die In Joliet Murder Defendant's Lawyer Argues