SHELBYVILLE, IL. —
MAROA — Two men have been charged in the murder of a man who spent much of his youth in rural Windsor.
Terris D. Warnsley, 21, of Maroa, is accused of killing Justin Mentzer, 23, also of Maroa. Mentzer, who grew up in Humboldt and spent much of his youth on his grandparents’ Shelby County farm, died as a result of multiple blunt and sharp force injuries to his face and upper body, said Macon County Coroner Michael Day in his autopsy report.
Police also arrested a suspect on Tuesday, just one day after Mentzer’s wife found him in their home at 203 E. Washington St., Lot 1. Douglas W. Taylor, 21, of Maroa, is in the Macon County Jail after a judge set a $10 million bond for him.
Wednesday evening, Mentzer’s dad, Leon Mentzer, remembered his son’s days in Shelby County.
“He spent lots of time down there with his grandparents,” said Mentzer. “Him and his (twin) brother both.
“I’m his father. I just lost my wife. This is a very tough time for me.”
Leon Mentzer was referring to the September death of his wife, Mary (McAllister) Mentzer, whose obituary in the Daily News said she succumbed to a four-month illness. Mary Mentzer was born in Shelbyville and still has family in Shelby County and in Effingham, Leon Mentzer said.
“I only have one left,” said Leon Mentzer who was referring to Justin’s twin brother, Joshua.
Leslie Mentzer discovered her husband’s violently abused body shortly after 7 a.m. Monday when she returned home from work. She called 911 immediately, and the coroner pronounced him dead a short time later.
Warnsley and Taylor face charges of first degree murder, home invasion and aggravated robbery.
Day said Taylor allegedly told police he and Warnsley had been planning to kill Mentzer for three weeks and were planning on taking a Playstation 3, a Playstation Vita and the victim’s laptop from Mentzer’s home. Taylor also allegedly told police he brought a knife and Warnsley brought a hammer into Mentzer’s home and had a secured buyer for the items they intended to steal.
Day said Maroa hasn’t seen a murder in decades.
“I’ve been close to here for a long time. We’ve not had an occurrence like this in 50 to 70 years,” he said. “We’ve not had any confirmed homicide in the area since before then. It’s something no one really expects in this small and cohesive of a community and it just reminds us that the world can be a hard place.”
Leon Mentzer said his son was a caring individual who was trying to turn his life around.
“My son went over to my neighbor’s family’s home for Thanksgiving and cooked them all a Thanksgiving meal,” he said. “That’s just the kind of person he was. Instead of starting a tradition with his family, he was doing that. He was trying. That’s the kind of person he was.”
In 2009, Justin Mentzer was charged with a sexual offense related to child pornography, of which Leon said his son was innocent. Mentzer said his son took the punishment in order to move past the crime. Justin was placed on the Illinois Sex Offender registry.
“My son never did anything bad enough for what happened to him,” Mentzer said. “I’m heartbroken.”
Mentzer said he hopes to get through the tragedy with support of his family.
“I would want to tell those boys who did that that I forgive them, but I just can’t right now,” he said. “We’re going to get through it. We lost someone who would have made a great husband for the long haul.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Justin Mentzer.jpg
December 5, 2012
Family recalls homicide victim with local ties
- Local News
-
-
Rites for Old Glory
More than 450 flags were retired Friday evening in a ceremony at the VFW. Friday, June 14, was Flag Day.
-
Messianic Man of Steel
The latest film version of Superman isn't just sci-fi action movie about a super-human crime fighter. It's also a Greek tragedy, revealing Superman's inner turmoil and his eventual emergence as a messiah, the messianic "Man of Steel."
- Driver Standings 1. Jimmie Johnson, 521 2. Carl Edwards, 470 3. Clint Bowyer, 452 4. Dale Earnhardt, 439 5. Kevin Harvick, 434 6. Matt Kenseth, 418 7. Kyle Busch, 412 8. Kasey Kahne, 400 9. Brad Keselowski, 398 10. Greg Biffle, 395 11. Jeff Gordon, 385 12. Pa
- Shelby Area Sports Results Saturday, June 8 TRAVEL BASEBALL - 11U Shelbyville 10, Neoga 8 Neoga 18, Shelbyville 8 Wednesday June 12 MENS SOFTBALL Naber Grain 15, DJs Landscaping 13 Naber Grain 12, DJs Landscaping 7
-
Little Free Library in Stewardson
Little Free Library #5608 is open for business in Stewardson. Located at 418 E Main St, #5608 is stewarded by Arlene and Ferd McCormick. Walk up their front sidewalk to see what is available today. The Little Free Library movement started in Wisco
- County Board approves CEFS grant requests The Shelby County board approved grants and requests that were presented during its regular meeting Wednesday. CEFS Chief Operations officer Kevin Bushur presented the nearly half-million dollar capital improvement grant that includes funds for three
-
Tractors Rolled through Shelby County
The 5th Annual Chris Barker Memorial Tractor held on Sunday, June 9, welcomed 58 tractor drivers from all over Illinois. The tractor drive which perpetuates the Chris Barker Memorial Scholarship through the Shelby County Farm Bureau Foundation raised
- Shelby Area Sports Schedule Friday, June 14 Illinois State High School Rodeo, Altamont SHS boys basketball varsity/JV at Maroa, 5 p.m. SHS girls basketball at Okaw Valley Shootout SHS high school boys wrestling camp SHS high school boys basketball camp, 5 p.m. Men's Softball: #
- Local Author to Give Presentation at Visitor Center Lake Shelbyville - On June 29, at 1:00 p.m., local author Dan Guillory, author of nine books, will offer a program entitled "Historic Homes and their Untold Stories," based on his latest book, HousePoems. The book contains notes, poems, and photograp
-
Pageants, talent highlight Pow Wow Days
The 34th annual Moweaqua Pow Wow was yet again full of food, carnival rides for all ages, and entertainment for anyone who wanted to sit and enjoy the beautiful weather. This year's Pow Wow theme was "Where Old and New Friends Meet". On Thursday, the
- More Local News Headlines
-
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Fla. Teen Catches Ride With Whale Shark
G8 Leaders Huddle on Syria
Raw: Obama, Putin Meet at G8
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Daughter: Mandela Doing 'Very Well'
Investigators Probe Origin of Colo. Wildfire
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
'Game of Thrones' Boosts N. Ireland
Raw: Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery
Zimmerman Jury Selection Turns to Media Exposure
Raw: FBI Meets Plane After Poison Threat
Family Tweets Say Kim Kardashian Gives Birth
US, EU Leaders Announce Free Trade Talks
