Monticello, IL-(Effingham Radio)- On September 30, 2021, the Office of Piatt County State’s Attorney Sarah Perry charged Blayton M. Cota,
a 19-year-old male of Granite City, Illinois and two juveniles, ages 16 and 17 of Springfield, Illinois with First-Degree Murder.
As it relates to the First-Degree Murder charges (Class M Criminal Felony); Cota and the 2 juveniles are alleged, on or about January 26, 2021, to have murdered Michael Brown with a firearm while committing a burglary.
These charges resulted from an incident that occurred on January 26, 2021, when Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 5 officials were requested by the Piatt County Sheriff’s Department to assist with a death investigation. The victim, Michael Brown, a 65-year-old male of Hammond, IL was found deceased in his residence on S. C Street in Hammond, IL.
The 16-year-old juvenile was taken into custody on September 30, 2021, the 17-year old Juvenile was taken into custody on October 5, 2021 and Cota was taken into custody on October 4, 2021 by ISP DCI Agents. Cota is being held in the Piatt County Jail on $1,000,000 bond, 10% to apply. Both juveniles are being confined in juvenile detention facilities.
ISP DCI Zone 5 was assisted by the Attorney General’s Office of Illinois; Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Logan, Menard, Piatt, and Sangamon County Sheriff’s Offices; Lincoln, Petersburg, and Springfield Police Departments; and the Piatt County Coroner and State’s Attorney’s Offices. No additional information will be released in this open and ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or other crimes are encouraged to contact the Illinois State Police, Division of Criminal Investigations at (217) 278-5004 (tip line) or by email at ISP.DCI.Zone05@Illinois.gov.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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