Moline police investigate two homicides
The Moline Police Department is investigating two deaths on Wednesday morning as murders, at two different residences in Moline.
Both deaths have been ruled as homicide and investigators have connected the two to the same suspect, who was later found dead in Iowa.
At 9:41 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, Moline Police Department responded to a residence in the 3300 block of 25th Avenue for an unknown medical problem reported by another occupant in the home. Upon arrival, police officers located a 55-year-old male, Steven Herring, deceased, police said in a Thursday release.
Moline Police detectives began an investigation and processing the crime scene. Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) determined Herring had been shot by a handgun and located a shell casing in the residence.
At 10:37 a.m., Moline Police responded to a residence in the 1800 block of 46th Street for an unknown medical problem reported by a neighbor. Upon arrival, police officers located a 79-year-old female, Donna Ericson, deceased. Moline Police detectives began an investigation and requested assistance from the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office for additional investigators as well as the Illinois State Police to process the crime scene.
CSI determined Ericson had been shot by a handgun and located a shell casing in the residence. Detectives from the Moline Police Department learned that Chad Hillyer, 55, of Aledo, was the son of Ericson and a close friend of Herring.
Investigators continued to gather evidence including cell phone records, residential, commercial, and city video, and located a vehicle owned by Hillyer, a white 2007 GMC truck, on video near both residences in the early morning of Jan. 24.
Investigators interviewed dozens of people throughout the day across Iowa and Illinois trying to piece the information together. Investigators determined that Hillyer had property in rural Aledo. Around 3 p.m., Moline Police obtained a search warrant for the property in Aledo, as well as a DNA search warrant for Hillyer.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., members of the Illinois State Police SWAT, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and the Moline Police Department executed a search warrant at the Aledo residence. Hillyer was not located. The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigators processed the scene for evidence.
While collecting evidence, CSI located a shell casing inside this residence. A Moline Police Department Detective transported the three shell casings to the Davenport Police Department and processed them through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. The analysis discovered that all three casings had been fired from the same handgun.
Around 9 p.m., the Coralville, Iowa Police Department was called to a suspicious vehicle on a rural road just off I-380 on the border with Tiffin, Iowa. An officer located Hillyer inside the vehicle, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A firearm was collected from the scene.
Coralville Police are still investigating this incident. Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson is conducting an autopsy on Herring and Erickson tomorrow.
The death of Hillyer is being investigated by the Johnson County Medical Examiner and further tests and examinations are pending in their jurisdiction. The Moline Police Department still has considerable work to do in these cases. Blood evidence and DNA from the crime scenes will be sent to the Illinois State Police Forensic Laboratory.
Detectives will coordinate with Johnson County to conduct ballistic analysis of the firearm and shell casings at a laboratory. Laboratory analysis typically takes several months.
“Our thoughts are with the families impacted by this tragedy,” Moline Police Chief Darren Gault said in the release. “This is an extremely large and complex case and we are grateful for the assistance and collaboration from several law enforcement partners.”
“Many thanks go to our police officers and all other agencies that worked with us to keep our community safe during this uncertain time,” Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said Thursday afternoon. “The collaboration and dedication to their work is highly commendable and we are extremely grateful for their work.
“On behalf of City Council, we acknowledge the pain and grief experienced by the families who have lost a loved one,” the mayor said. “Our hearts are with all who are impacted by this tragedy and we stand with them to offer support and understanding.”
The Moline Police Department was assisted by the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation, the Illinois State Police Special Operations Command, Illinois State Police Division Crime Scene Services, Milan Police Department, Rock Island Police Department, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, Coralville Police Department, Rock Island County Coroner, Johnson County Medical Examiner and the Rock Island County State’s Attorney.
No further information is available at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 309-797-0401, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500, or through the P3 Tips App.
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