Day 3 Of Testimony In Shannon Bussan Homicide Trail

Testimony at an ongoing murder trial focused on key pieces of evidence in the investigation into the death of an area woman. 31 year old Shannon Bussan of Elizabeth, Illinois is charged in Lafayette County Circuit Court with first-degree intentional homicide in relation to the death of her husband’s grandmother, 83 year old Lynne Montgomery of Benton.  Bussan is accused of killing Montgomery on Feb. 27, 2023, at Montgomery’s residence as part of a plot to take money Montgomery kept in a safe.  Mongtomery’s granddaughter and Bussan’s sister-in-law Beth Stegall testified to visiting Montgomery’s home the day after her death to help her mother, Janet Bussan, go through Montgomery’s items. She testified to finding a notebook in Montgomery’s dresser with concerning messages including “Help, Shannon is hurting me” among other comments of varying legibility. The notes were written in different colored inks and appeared to have been written in a rush. The defense pointed out on cross-examination, however, that Stegall’s recollection of the notes differed somewhat from photos of the writings. Defense attorney James Odell proposed that Stegall herself had written the notes or that someone she knew had done so. Defense attorneys previously outlined a belief that undisclosed individuals used Montgomery’s natural death to frame Bussan as part of an ongoing family feud.