St. Clair Co. retrial under way in 2005 killing

BELLEVILLE -- A retrial is under way in southwestern Illinois' St. Clair County for a man accused of killing a Bethalto woman in 2005.

Jon Cearlock's previous trial in the July 2005 slaying of Paula Weinmann ended in a hung jury.

Authorities contend Cearlock killed Weinmann after they met at a St. Louis Cardinals game. Weinmann's body was found days later behind a Belleville store.

Defense attorneys, however, claim Jordan Matlock, Cearlock's former childhood friend, killed Weinmann.

Matlock was a key prosecution witness in Cearlock's first trial after Matlock pleaded guilty to obstructing justice. He's claimed Weinmann already was dead by the time he helped Cearlock rid his car of any evidence.

Matlock testified Tuesday that Cearlock told him he had sex with Weinmann but knocked her unconscious after she sprayed him with pepper spray.