Homicide Case To Be Heard in Different Court

A 29-year-old mother accused of killing her grandmotherin– law will have her case heard under a new judge. On March 28th, Lafayette County Circuit Court Judge Duane Jorgenson approved the request by Shannon Bussan’s attorney, Andrea Winder, to find a new home for the case. Bussan, of Elizabeth, Ill., is accused of first degree intentional homicide in the Feb. 27 death of 83 year old Lynne Montgomery of Benton. Bussan initially told authorities that Montgomery, who she referred to as “Grandma”, had fallen while alone. Bussan found Montgomery between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. that day and checked for signs of life, but found none. She called and texted her husband in a panic before ultimately calling 9-1-1 just after 4 p.m. The next day, family members alerted local authorities of disturbing handwritten notes, possibly suggesting foul play. An autopsy was performed, showing Montgomery’s bruising and injuries were likely not from a singular fall, but perhaps by blunt force trauma. It also showed that her death was not of a medical event, but by suffocation.