Terry J. Sedlacek

A judge says a man accused of gunning down a pastor during his sermon in a southwestern Illinois church is mentally unfit to stand trial. Madison County Circuit Judge Richard Tognarelli made the ruling Tuesday after receiving a court-ordered psychiatric examination of Terry Sedlacek (SEHD'-lak). Prosecutors and public defenders agreed that psychologist Robert Heilbronner would testify that Sedlacek is a schizophrenic who likely won't give his attorneys accurate information or understand the legal process. Authorities allege Sedlacek killed the Rev. Fred Winters on March 8 inside the First Baptist Church of Maryville. Tognarelli has remanded Sedlacek to the custody of the state Department of ... Read Full Story

Senior Pastor Fred Winters 1 Dead, 4 Injured in Shooting at First Baptist Church in Illinois 1 dead in Illinois church shooting, police say Pastor killed in Ill. church shooting 1 Dead In Illinois Church Shooting First Baptist Church website First Baptist Church in Maryville, IL Read Full Story

Cops have charged 27-year-old Terry Sedlacek with the murder of pastor Fred Winters in Maryville, Illinois on Sunday. As we told you over the weekend , Sedlacek walked into First Baptist Church in Maryville where Winters was preaching and shot him before pulling out a knife and started swinging at church members. Two other people were injured while trying to subdue Sedlacek. He also suffered cut wounds, but cops say they aren't sure if those were self inflicted or as a result of the fight. “The only think we know is that the suspect said something to the pastor and the pastor said something ... Read Full Story

The man accused of shooting a southwestern Illinois pastor through the heart during his Sunday sermon has been indicted on murder charges. A Madison County grand jury handed down the indictment Thursday against 27-year-old Terry Sedlacek (SEHD'-lak). He's charged with first-degree murder in the death of the Rev. Fred Winters of First Baptist Church in Maryville. Sedlacek also is charged with two counts of aggravated battery in the stabbings of church members. The Madison County prosecutor says Sedlacek is scheduled for a video arraignment Thursday afternoon. He's being held at the county jail. Authorities say Sedlacek entered the church March 8 and shot Winters ... Read Full Story

The man accused of gunning down a clergyman in his southwestern Illinois church has made his court appearance. Defendant Terry Sedlacek (SEHD'-lak) watched over a video hookup Saturday from the Madison County Jail as charges against him were read by a judge. Sedlacek is charged with first-degree murder in the death last weekend of the Rev. Fred Winters of First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois. He also is charged with two counts of aggravated battery in the injuries of two churchgoers. He already had pleaded not guilty. A part-time public defender withdrew from the case Friday. On Saturday, Madison County Public Defender John Rekowski ... Read Full Story