People v. Mertz

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Coles County, defendant, Anthony B. Mertz, was convicted of first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a) (West 2000)), home invasion (720 ILCS 5/12 — 11(a) (West 2000)), and aggravated criminal sexual assault (720 ILCS 5/12 — 14(a) (West 2000)). At a subsequent death penalty hearing, the same jury found defendant eligible for the death penalty, and thereafter concluded there were no mitigating factors sufficient to preclude the imposition of a death sentence. Accordingly, the circuit court sentenced defendant to death on the first degree murder…