Perhaps the first murder in the 159-year history of a Hancock County city took place in the first hours of 2018.
Antonio L. Sanchez, 17, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery in the shooting death of Madison Finch, 19, during a New Year's Eve party at a residence in LaHarpe.
Sanchez made his initial court appearance Tuesday in Carthage, where he is being held on no bond in the Hancock County Jail. A preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 23.
Sanchez's hometown was unavailable. Although he is a juvenile, he apparently is being charged as an adult. His name was listed multiple times on court documents the Hancock County circuit clerk's office sent Wednesday to Nick in the Morning.
The documents stated Sanchez put a gun to Finch's head and shot her. Finch, who was a LaHarpe resident, was pronounced dead about 5:30 a.m. Monday at the site of the party, a residence at Conch Drive and Terre Haute Road.
That residence was Finch's, who was a college freshman, according to The Hawk Eye of Burlington, Iowa.
Illinois State Police and Hancock County Sheriff's deputies arrested the suspect about 3:30 p.m. Monday, according to court documents and a news release State's Attorney Jason Pohren issued.
If convicted, Sanchez faces between 20 and 60 years in prison on each murder count. The terms can be extended up to 100 years.
Pohren told Nick in the Morning he had no idea when a murder might last have taken place in LaHarpe. Other law-enforcement officials suggested there hasn't been a homicide in the county in at least 20 years.
A message was left for Hancock County Sheriff Scott Bentzinger.
LaHarpe has about 1,200 residents. It is located along Illinois Route 9, about 80 miles west of Peoria.