Posted on Saturday, February 8th, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Thirty-two-year-old Champaign, Illinois resident Terry Lee Brownlee was found not guilty by reason of insanity for murdering his mother, 61-year-old Sharon Brownlee last year on Friday, January 31 by Champaign County Judge Heidi Ladd.
Brownlee said he also caused a fire that was discovered by the authorities at around 6:10 a.m. He was charged with murder, aggravated arson, residential arson, and concealment of homicidal death on April 12, 2013 and has been under the custody of the police since then.
Brownlee was declared unfit for trial, meaning he didn’t understand the charges against him and the crimes he was accused, and wouldn’t be able to properly defend himself, in June 2013. In November, the findings against him were reversed and he was declared fit for trial.
Prior to the hearing last Friday, Assistant State Attorney Dan Clifton and Assistant Public Defenders Janie Miller-Jones and Lindsey Yanchus asked Ladd to consider the assessment made by Champaign psychiatrist Lawrence Jeckel regarding his evaluation of Brown’s “criminal responsibility.”
Our lawyers at the Bruno Law Offices are prepared to help people in Champaign who have been charged with murder or other serious criminal offense. Call our offices at (217) 328-6000 to set up an initial appointment and discuss your defense options.