First murder trial of new year in La Salle County gets underway

A jury of seven men and five women will decide the fate of a Dayton man who could be sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Jury selection wrapped up Monday morning in the murder trial of 49-year-old William Horman. Opening statements in front of Judge H. Chris Ryan start tomorrow morning with the trail expected to wrap up this week.

Horman is accused of murdering his boss Robert Dowd last year and then burning his body. Prosecutors think Horman had a business partnership with Dowd fall through before the murder. Dowd owned a truck wash in Ottawa.

Horman is charged with murder, concealing a homicidal death and home invasion. He’s looking at up to 60 years in prison if convicted of murder.

A co-defendant in the murder, 22-year-old Jonathan Beckman of Wedron is due back in La Salle County Court March 10th. He’s being held on two million dollars bond.