People v. Howard

Defendant Euneta Howard was convicted by a Kendall County jury of the January 27, 1977, murder of Christopher Wayne Alfter, her four-year-old son. She was sentenced by the court to serve a term of 15 to 45 years imprisonment in the State penitentiary. On appeal, the defendant contends that the evidence presented at trial failed to establish her guilt of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. We agree and reverse.

Christopher Wayne Alfter was murdered on the morning of January 27,1977, while he was sleeping on a sofa in the living room of defendant’s home located at 79 Sheffield in Boulder Hill.…