(BENTON, IL) — A pre-trial conference for Mary Jophlin of West Frankfort was recently rescheduled due to the defense attorney in the case not being available to appear in Franklin County Court. Jophlin, who’s accused of concealing her daughter Alexis Smothers’ death along with obstructing justice and destroying evidence in July 2011, will now have her pre-trial conference on Jan. 2 at 9:30. Defense attorney Terry Green asked Chief Judge Tom Tedeschi for this to be done because he was involved in a preliminary hearing in Saline County was unable to attend. Green’s motion was accepted without any objection from the state. Jophlin is accused of murdering Smothers, whose body was found July 19, 2011 in the basement of a West Frankfort home. Jophlin remains lodged in the Franklin County Jail.