A Stillman Valley man accused of murder requests his trial be moved due to concerns over local media coverage
His lawyer, Christopher DeRango, submitted this motion just a few weeks before the trial was supposed to kick off on February 3. Meyer is up against four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson, and one count of hiding a homicide. It’s a pretty heavy situation, especially since their three-year-old son was also found dead after the fire.
DeRango mentioned that he only got the results from a survey he commissioned about the local opinion on the case just days before filing the motion. The survey showed that a lot of people in Ogle County have already formed opinions about Meyer’s guilt, which he argues makes it impossible for his client to get a fair trial there.
He pointed out that the media coverage has been intense and biased against Meyer, while the victims, his ex-wife and son, have received a lot of positive attention. There’s even a Facebook page dedicated to seeking justice for them, which adds to the pressure.
The judge, John Roe, has set a hearing for February 27 to discuss the change of venue request. Meanwhile, Meyer remains in jail, waiting for the next steps in this complicated case. It’s a tough spot for everyone involved, and the legal wrangling is just getting started.
