Man convicted in 2004 murder, dismemberment

EDWARDSVILLE _ A Madison County jury has convicted a southern Illinois man of first-degree murder in the death and dismemberment of a mentally ill stranger.

The jury deliberated for about an hour and 15 minutes Monday before convicting Chadwick Wallace of Alton in the 2004 death of 21-year-old Jesse Emery.

Wallace was also found guilty of dismembering a human body.

He pleaded guilty to the murder in 2006 and was sentenced to 75 years in prison. He was allowed to withdraw his guilty pleas last year.

He testified Friday that he went along with the crimes but didn't participate, placing the blame on co-defendant Jason Mobley, who was convicted at trial.

Wallace could be sentenced to up to 90 years in prison.