Murder Trial's Missing Witness Claims He Was Threatened

A reluctant witness ordered to testify at a murder trial told police he was scared to come to court.

“He said he was scared, he had been threatened,” Joliet police Detective John Ross told Will County Judge Carla Alessio-Policandriotes during a hearing for witness Marshaun Gaston.

Gaston, 31, was supposed to testify last week during the murder trial of 21-year-old Daeviontae Pruitte but he never showed up. Ross and other Joliet police captured Gaston in Chicago Monday.

Attorney Amy Christiansen told the judge that Gaston informed her he had been threatened and followed by unidentified people who were “recording all of his movements.” Gaston was also told they know “who his girlfriend is,” Christiansen said.

Gaston was on parole when he took off, apparently leaving the state before heading to Chicago. He was released from prison in April after doing time for possessing drugs and a firearm, and for drunken driving.

Christiansen asked Judge Alessio-Policandriotes to allow Gaston to post $200 bail for his freedom. Instead, the judge threw him back in jail and ordered him kept there until he testifies against Pruitte on Monday.

Pruitte was charged with gunning down 54-year-old Timothy Egner outside the Center Street Wendy’s in August 2012. Egner was reportedly waiting to pick up a family friend who had worked the night shift at Wendy’s.