Joliet man asks judge to suppress statements in drug-induced homicide case

A Joliet man charged with drug-induced homicide seeks to have his statements to the police suppressed after he claimed he was under the influence of drugs while he was interrogated, court records show.

Steven Talbot, 33, has also filed a motion to have his case separated from his co-defendant Kiley Murphy, 32, of Elwood, claiming Murphy plans to accuse him of being the actual perpetrator of the crime that led to the death of Celeste Roppo, 24, of Lockport.

Talbot and Murphy were charged with drug-induced homicide in connection with Roppo’s death. Roppo died on Nov. 29, 2016, after she consumed heroin mixed with fentanyl that was allegedly sold to her by Talbot and Murphy, according to Lockport police.

On June 1, Talbot filed a motion that claimed he was under the influence of Xanax, fentanyl, heroin and alcohol and he did not sleep for more than 52 hours while he was interrogated by Lockport police.

Talbot claimed he was “persuaded into agreeing with the officers' allegations.”

He also alleged he was under arrest for a charge other than drug-induced homicide and that he cannot recall “being advised of his rights or why he was there in the first place,” the motion said.

“None of his statements were given freely or voluntarily because he was under the influence,” Talbot’s motion said.

A judge has yet to rule on Talbot’s motion to suppress his statements to the police or to separate his case from Murphy’s.

Lockport Deputy Police Chief Ron Huff declined to comment on Talbot’s motion and referred any questions to prosecutors.

Murphy has been free from the Will County jail since Feb. 20 after her friend Stephen Carroll posted the $25,000 she needed for her release, court records show.

Will County Assistant State's Attorney Amanda Tasker filed a petition for a hearing on the source of funds tendered for Murphy's bond. The petition claimed Murphy has not shown proof of employment or income since 2011.

Tasker's petition said Murphy "does not appear to have any income from legitimate sources to post bail."