MARION COUNTY, IL — Marion County jurors found a Chicago man guilty Thursday afternoon in a case accusing him of shooting and killing a woman in Centralia on September 22nd.

Lorenzo Patton was ultimately removed from the courtroom Thursday morning after he ignored warnings about his outbursts. He took the stand Wednesday in his own defense and claimed he had no reason to kill Precious Jones, calling her his friend. Patton denied having taken a TV from the victim’s home and said a man wanted to trade the TV for heroin.

Multiple former inmates testified in the two-day trial. Charita Lenox claimed that while she was held with Patton in the Coles County Jail, he admitted to her that he had killed Jones.

Still, others testified that while they were held in the Marion County Jail with Christopher Carroll, the former boyfriend of the victim’s daughter, he confessed to the murder of Precious Jones.

Carroll’s cellmate Larry Woodward told the court he overheard a conversation between Carroll and another inmate and that Carroll said Jones was working with police and someone needed to ‘take care of her’.

Another inmate, Andrew Sloat, testified that while he and Carroll were out of jail in March, they had gone to purchase drugs and Carroll told him about going to Jones’ home and shooting her in the living room.

Since Patton was found guilty and is a habitual criminal, there is the possibility of mandatory life in prison. He could also receive a 25-year to natural life sentence enhancement due to a firearm being used in the commission of the crime.

Sentencing in the case is scheduled for 2pm. November 20, 2020