Public defender for man charged in 5 murders

LINCOLN -- The man arrested in the slayings of a central Illinois family heard five counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder against him read in court.

Christopher Harris wore black and white striped prison garb to his Friday hearing at the Logan County courthouse and replied "yes sir" twice to questions from the judge.

A public defender was appointed to represent the 30-year-old Harris who was informed by the judge he could face the death penalty. The McLean County man sat through the hearing with his head bowed.

Harris was arrested Thursday in the bludgeoning deaths last month of five members of his ex-wife's family in the tiny Logan County town of Beason.

Harris' stepmother, Debbie Harris, tells The Associated Press police arrested the wrong man.