Heath Dunning: Illinois motorist convicted of fatally stabbing passenger after argument over directions
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised
FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS: A convicted felon was charged with first-degree murder for stabbing a man in the heart inside a vehicle while traveling on a highway in Illinois. The victim and the convict had an argument over which direction they were traveling.
Heath Dunning was convicted of murder this week and added to the murder charges, he was also found guilty of possession of a weapon and was a convicted felon in the case. The guilty verdicts were returned by the jury after deliberation of about three hours. His three-day trial began on Monday, March 20, and ended when evidence for the case was presented at the trial in Franklin County on Tuesday and Wednesday, as per the news release issued by the State’s Attorney in Franklin County, reported Law and Crime.
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What happened on the day of the murder?
While driving on a highway in Illinois on April 15, 2021, Heath Dunning fatally stabbed Dennis "Lance" Martin through his heart. The convicted felon who was driving Martin's van got into an argument on the night of the killing about the direction the ex-convict was going, according to authorities.
The victim tried to remove the keys from the ignition while he sat in the front passenger seat when the murderer grabbed a knife and stabbed him. "Dunning placed a knife in his right hand and swung toward Martin's chest plunging the blade between Martin's ribs and deep into Martin's heart," read the state attorney's statement. Dunning then parked the van in a nearby driveaway and dialed 911. Following the call, a sheriff's captain arrived at the scene within moments. However, it was too late to save the victim as the injuries were fatal. He died before paramedics arrived.
When will Dunning face sentencing?
Dunning has previously been convicted of burglary, property damage, and aggravated assault in Saline County and is set to face sentencing for the convictions later, according to Law and Crime. As per the State Attorney's statement issued, a thorough investigation into the murder was jointly conducted by the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit, Franklin County Coroner's Office, and Franklin County Sheriff's Department.