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$4 million bail for Elgin man in fatal shooting

Bail was set at $4 million Saturday for an Elgin man with an extensive criminal background accused of murdering a 20-year-old nearly six months ago.

William M. Ingram, 28, of the 0-100 block of Poplar Creek Drive, appeared in Kane County bond court before Associate Judge Christine Downs after he was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the death of Devonte Turner, most recently of Warrenville.

The charges carry a penalty of 20 to 60 years in prison and up to 60 to 100 years based on criminal history, Downs said. "Essentially, up to life in prison," she said.

Ingram was arrested Tuesday at a hotel in Palatine after an investigation by Elgin police. Turner was found shot around 9 p.m. April 30 in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant near Fleetwood Drive and McLean Boulevard in Elgin.

The shooting took place in the parking lot of the nearby Buena Vista apartment complex, also known as "The Mills," down the street from the restaurant, witnesses said.

The victim's mother, Dorothy Turner of Aurora, said she was shocked by William Ingram's arrest - he briefly dated her daughter about four years ago and had kept in touch with her children over the years.

Ingram gave quiet, often monosyllabic answers to the judge's questions. The bond hearing was held in Kane County court but also broadcast on a TV screen in the lobby of the sheriff's office building next door. Both Ingram's and Turner's mothers witnessed the proceedings.

Ingram told the judge he has no job and lives with his mother in Elgin. However, his mother, Trulisa Ingram, said she sees her son only sporadically.

Trulisa Ingram said she believes her son is innocent. "My son is no killer," she said. "He may be many things, but he's no killer."

Kane County state's attorney representatives said William Ingram's previous charges include retail theft, unlawful possession of cannabis and driving with a suspended license, all in 2006; a five-year sentence in 2007 on charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; theft charges in 2009; charges of criminal trespass and delivery of a controlled substance in 2010; and charges of possession of a controlled substance in 2011.

He also has pending charges of manufacture and delivery of cocaine and driving with a suspended driver's license, both from 2014, Kane County records show. He is next due in Kane County court on the murder charges at 9 a.m. Oct. 28.

William Ingram graduated from Elgin High School in 2006 and worked briefly with youths, but he hasn't held a job in years, his mother said. "They make their own choices when they get to that age," she said.

Dorothy Turner said during the murder investigation that William Ingram, whose nickname is "Catfish," reached out to her other children and "befriended" her on Facebook. Just before his arrest, he called her oldest son and told him he'd had a dream about Devonte Turner, she said.

The news of the arrest was welcome but did not bring the relief she expected, said Dorothy Turner, who had been actively advocating for months for people to come forward with information.

"I thought maybe this would give me some type of comfort, but this has brought out more anger than I already had," she said.

Elgin police said detectives found evidence that led them to Ingram but didn't release additional information.

The tragedy is affecting two families, Dorothy Turner said.

"I took the biggest loss. My son is in his grave, and I will never see my son again," she said. "But both families are going to have a loss at the end of the day."

  Dorothy Turner of Aurora watches bond court proceedings Saturday for William M. Ingram of Elgin on a TV screen. Ingram is accused of murdering Turner's son Devonte Turner. Elena Ferrarin/eferrarin@dailyherald.com
  Bond was set at $4 million Saturday for William M. Ingram of Elgin, who is charged with three counts of murder in the shooting of a Warrenville-area man. The Kane County court proceedings were broadcast on a TV screen in the lobby of the sheriff's office in St. Charles. Elena Ferrarin/eferrarin@dailyherald.com
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