5 years, 2 months ago by Scott Hardy
Preliminary hearing in Pike County murder case set for February 5
A Pittsfield man, charged with murder in the death of a Pittsfield woman, has been found mentally fit to face trial.
David Sampley appeared Tuesday in Pike County Illinois Circuit Court for a case review, where that ruling on his fitness was handed down. A preliminary hearing will be held February 5th. Sampley’s currently being held by the Illinois Department of Human Services while he continues to receive treatment. He was charged with two counts of 1st Degree Murder in late July 2018, a month after he was found unfit to stand trial. Sampley also faces a Class X count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, and counts of Aggravated Domestic Battery by strangulation and Domestic Battery. A probable cause statement says that Sharon Welch was strangled with a sock down her throat, and had her chest stomped last June 4th.
Sampley was arrested after authorities found Welch's body in a home in the 600 block of Clarksville Road.
