An Illinois woman, Marcy Oglesby, is facing murder charges once again after being accused of poisoning a local police chief’s food with eyedrops. The charges against Oglesby were initially dropped in March due to a defense argument claiming a violation of her right to a speedy trial. However, an Illinois appeals court has overturned this decision, leading to Oglesby’s return to jail on charges of first-degree murder and concealing the death of Richard Young.
Court documents reveal that Young, a retired police chief in Maquon, Illinois, was in a relationship with Oglesby at the time of his death. The case took a disturbing turn when a pungent odor coming from a storage unit in Knox County caught the attention of the police. Upon entering the unit, officers discovered a cardboard box covered by a blanket, surrounded by cat litter. Initially, Oglesby claimed the smell was caused by old clothes and a deceased possum. However, she eventually confessed that the box contained human remains, dressed in a flannel shirt and partially wrapped in plastic.
Four days after this discovery, Oglesby was arrested and initially charged with concealing a non-homicidal death. The case faced several adjournments until prosecutors added more severe charges, including first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, aggravated battery, and concealment of a homicidal death in February 2023. According to court documents, Oglesby allegedly used eyedrops and an antidepressant prescription to poison Young’s food and drink, causing his death between October and December 2021.
Oglesby allegedly informed an investigator from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office that Young died from COVID at their home. She stated that she hid his body in the storage unit because she could not fulfill his wish to be buried at an ‘Indian burial mound’ and didn’t know what to do with it. Another witness, described as a “step-mom” to Oglesby, told investigators that Oglesby had planned on poisoning Young. The witness alleged that Oglesby would purchase eye drops from various Dollar General locations and administer them in Young’s food and drink. Both Oglesby and the witness reportedly wanted Young out of the house, but he refused to leave.
During a search, investigators discovered a significant number of discarded eye drop bottles, a pill crusher, packaging for the pill crusher, and receipts for eye drops at a Dollar General store. Oglesby’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for January 8, 2024, in Knox County Court. She is currently out on pretrial release.
