Jury finds man guilty of 2017 murder in Joliet Outlaws clubhouse

A Coal City man was convicted of killing a woman in the Joliet Outlaws’ clubhouse and concealing her death by stowing her lifeless body about 50 miles away from the scene of the crime.

After two days of deliberations, a jury Monday found Jeremy Boshears, 36, guilty of the Nov. 13, 2017, murder of Katie Kearns, 24, and concealing her death. Boshears, who cheated on his wife with Kearns, claimed she shot herself following a heated dispute at the clubhouse.

Boshears cried after learning of the verdict and buried his head in his arms.

Boshears could face 45 years to life in prison, according to prosecutors. A sentencing date has yet to be set. The next hearing is slated for May 23.

Boshears was charged with Kearns’ murder Nov. 20, 2017, following a Will County Sheriff’s Office investigation into her disappearance. She was last seen at Woody’s bar, which is close by the Outlaws’ clubhouse, and she was found in her own Jeep in a Kankakee County pole barn with a gunshot wound to her head.

Will County Deputy Chief Dan Jungles was in court Monday when the verdict was delivered. Afterward, Jungles said he knew how hard detectives worked on gathering facts in the case.

“The state’s attorney’s office did a great job in presenting those facts,” Jungles said.

Boshears’ attorney, Chuck Bretz, said he was disappointed by the outcome. He said he didn’t expect the jury to find Boshears, a Joliet Outlaw, likable, but believed the evidence convincingly showed Kearns died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“I respectfully submit they got this wrong,” Bretz said of the jury. “And I do firmly, firmly stand by my belief that he is, in fact, innocent of this murder and there was, in fact, no homicide.”

Bretz said he plans to vigorously argue for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict – which requests Judge Dave Carlson to set aside the guilty verdict – or ask for a new trial.

“We believe there would be compelling grounds for the court to set aside this verdict or in the alternative to grant a new trial,” Bretz said.

Prosecutors presented circumstantial evidence they claimed showed Boshears was Kearns’ killer. The evidence included testimony from former Outlaw prospect Colby O’Neal and St. Anne couple Ron and Georgia Keagle that implicated Boshears in the cover-up, as well as forensic and cellphone evidence they contended tied Boshears to Kearns’ murder.

Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Steven Platek told jurors that Boshears’ actions in the wake of Kearns’ death were not that of someone who saw a suicide but of one who committed murder.

“If she killed herself, why is he getting rid of the evidence?” Platek asked.

In a rare move, Boshears testified on his own behalf and claimed Kearns shot herself. Prosecutors presented no eyewitnesses to Kearns’ death.

As part of Boshears’ defense, Kearns’ private medical records detailing her drug abuse and mental health issues were used to bolster his claim that she shot herself.

Defense expert Arthur Borchers testified his own analysis led him to conclude that Kearns shot herself. Although state expert Matthew Noedel acknowledged a self-inflicted gunshot wound was possible, his own analysis was ultimately inconclusive because the scene had been altered.

O’Neal and Boshears testified about how the scene of Kearns’ death had been cleaned up. O’Neal testified that bullet hole in the ceiling was concealed with a smoke detector.

Boshears admitted to driving Kearns’ body to St. Anne. He further admitted to lying to police and Kearns’ family about her death. Boshears claimed he reluctantly participated in the cover-up under orders from the Outlaws.

The case against Boshears lasted about four and half years and was subject to fierce pretrial battles.

Just four days before the trial was set to begin, Bretz filed almost 20 motions to exclude evidence in the case and block testimony from several witnesses, largely arguing they had no relevance and would be prejudicial against Boshears.

The case also switched judges twice before landing in Carlson’s courtroom. Carlson expressed frustration with prosecutors over several issues, including one where prosecutors inadvertently played a police video interview referencing Boshears’ uncle’s suicide against Bretz’s wishes.

Bretz motioned for a mistrial three times and was denied each time. He made about 25 objections during Platek’s closing arguments.