Meyer double murder case continued until Feb. 8

A Byron man accused of murdering his ex-wife and 3-year-old son had a status hearing in Ogle County court on Monday and another continuance was granted.

The continuance was agreed to for a pre-trial on Feb. 8, 2021 at 10 a.m., Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock said.

Duane Meyer was charged with four counts of first degree homicide, two counts of aggravated arson and one count of concealment of a homicidal death on Oct. 9, 2019. Maggie and Amos Meyer were killed in a fire in 2016 that was proved to be arson.

Rock said a large amount of pretrial discovery was the reason for the continuance.

“Police and forensic reports, things like that,” Rock said. “Any time it’s a case with charges like this, it will take some time. Making sure both sides have all of the documents.”

The Feb. 8 date will consist of both sides seeing where they’re at with discovery, Rock said.

Meyer is currently being held in the Ogle County Jail on a $10 million bond.

Rock was sworn as state’s attorney on Dec. 1, taking over for Eric Morrow after defeating him in the primary elections earlier this year and running unopposed last month.

“It’s been good,” Rock said. “Myself and three new assistant state’s attorneys started last Tuesday and divied up all the cases. It’s exciting to be back serving Ogle County.

Ogle County courts opened back up on Monday after a closure due to COVID-19.