Former prosecutor takes witness stand, denies he killed wife

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A former Illinois prosecutor charged with murder in the 2006 death of his first wife took the witness stand Thursday to deny he killed the woman.

Former Adams County Assistant State's Attorney Curtis Lovelace's first trial, during which he didn't testify, ended with a deadlocked jury. Defense attorney Jon Loevy asked him if he killed Cory Lovelace.

"No," he answered.

Lovelace was arrested in 2014 and accused of using a pillow to suffocate 38-year-old Cory Lovelace. He said he dropped their children off at school then discovered her body.

On Thursday, he discussed his relationship with his wife. He said their marriage wasn't a perfect one. He noted alcohol was a part of their lives, adding she also suffered with bulimia.

Curtis Lovelace's defense team say Cory Lovelace died of natural causes tied to liver disease.

A forensic pathologist, testifying for the prosecution, said she had no doubt Cory Lovelace was a homicide victim.

Dr. Jane Turner testified it appeared the woman died from suffocation. Turner said she based her assessment on several things she noticed while reviewing the original autopsy report, photographs and other data associated with it.

Curtis Lovelace said his wife was alive the morning he took his children to school. He said when he got back and looked into their bedroom, he saw his wife on the bed and saw something "wasn't right," adding her eyes were open and she was very pale.

"There was nothing there," he testified.

Cory Lovelace's cause of death was initially ruled inconclusive until a Quincy detective took a fresh look at the case, leading to Lovelace's arrest eight years after his wife's death.

Curtis Lovelace's second trial was moved from Adams County to Sangamon County after a request to change the venue.