The murder trial of a man accused in the beating and stabbing death of a Danville businessman is being delayed. Twenty-year-old Christopher Condon had been scheduled to stand trial starting this week in the February, 2018 death of Jay Hein. But during a brief hearing today (Monday) Condon’s trial was postponed until September.
Condon was indicted earlier by a Vermilion County Grand Jury on three counts of First Degree Murder, Aggravated Arson, and Concealment of a Homicidal Death. If convicted on the murder charge, Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy says the defendant would face a possible sentence of 20 to 60 years and prison – and could get a sentence of natural life in prison.
Hein was 51 when his body was found in his home in the 3600 block of Bayview Drive in February of 2018. Danville Firefighters found the body after a neighbor reported there was smoke coming from the home. Firefighters found a small fire inside the home along with Hein’s body. The victim had suffered multiple stab wounds and was beaten with a hammer according to information that was released in an earlier court hearing.
