Judge Rules Cell Tower Data as Admissible Evidence in Murder Trial

A DeKalb County, IL judge has ruled that cell tower data can be used as evidence in the upcoming double murder trial of Jonathan Hurst, accused of killing Patricia Wilson and her son, Robert Wilson, in 2016. The ruling, issued by Judge Marcy Buick on December 4, allows prosecutors to present cell data as part of their case, according to Shaw Local News.

Prosecutors argue the data places Hurst in Sycamore, IL around the time of the murders. Hurst’s attorney, Chip Criswell of the DeKalb County Public Defender’s Office, argued that police unlawfully seized evidence from the cell phone tower. He also pointed out there’s no indication a cell phone was directly used during the incident. If convicted, Hurst faces a life sentence.

A search warrant was conducted on a cell phone tower near the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, located three miles from the crime scene, on August 29, 2016. Data was collected through T-Mobile Metro PCS.