Trial date set for Elgin car crushing murder case

A June 20 trial date has been set for a Streamwood woman accused of using a car to crush to death a teen who had beaten up her son in Elgin.

Defense attorneys for Timera Branch, 34, of the 200 block of Monarch Drive, have rejected a plea deal offer from prosecutors, but will continue negotiating for the next several months.

“We have received an offer in the case. We’re not prepared to take that at this time,” defense attorney Liam Dixon told Kane County Judge Allen Anderson Thursday.

Branch faces murder charges in connection with a Nov. 8, 2009, attack that left John W. Keyes III dead.

Authorities say Branch crashed her 1991 Chrysler Imperial into an apartment building in the 200 block of Center Street in Elgin, pinning the 17-year-old Keyes against the building.

Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Greg Sams said a jury trial for Branch would take about a week.

Branch’s son, Lacorbek Benion, also faces murder charges. Benion, 17, of the 1300 block of Todd Farm Drive, Elgin, is accused of taunting Keyes and hitting him at least twice with a baseball bat, causing his death.

Keyes’ relatives have said the teenager was killed a day after he punched Benion at a party during an argument over a girl.

Branch is being held at the Kane County jail and is due in court again on April 14. Benion is due in court next on Feb. 9 and is free on bond with electronic home monitoring.