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Stanton stops prosecution of Sidnee Stephens murder case co-defendant

Judge Richard Aguirre granted a motion to stop prosecuting Chad Bennett in the 2010 murder of Sidnee Stephens.

Perry County State's Attorney David N. Stanton filed a motion to enter nolle prosequi in Bennett's case. Nolle prosequi indicates the state's desire to not prosecute at this time. Charges may be reinstated at a later date.

Bennett had been charged with concealing a homicide death, murder, kidnapping, home invasion and burglary

The court will refund Bennett's bond.

Stephens was found Stephens' body was found in the Beaucoup Creek in July 2010. To date, five individuals have been charged in her death.

Carl Dane pleaded guilty to Stephens' murder in June 2011 and was sentenced to 60 years in prison. He committed suicide in Perry County Jail in August 2011, the night before he was to be transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence.

Stanton had filed a motion for continuance in Bennett's case on Aug. 16. That motion stated that the people are not ready for trial and that three witnesses- James Glazier, Robbie Mueller and Dakota Wall- have indicated they will not testify against Bennett even though they have been offered immunity from prosecution.

Glazier and Mueller are incarcerated after being found guilty of first degree murder in separate stipulated bench trials.

Stanton's motion for continuance states that Glazier's and Mueller's attorneys have indicated they may change their position on whether or not to testify once their current appeals are completed.

Wall, Stephens' half-sister, is scheduled for a jury trial in November. She has been charged with murder, kidnapping, home invasion and burglary.