A Sangamon County jury has convicted Juatasha Denton McCaster, 24, of first degree murder. She was also convicted of concealment of a homicide, dismemberment of a human body and obstruction of justice. She’ll serve the sentences consecutively.
The jury returned its verdict after more than seven hours of deliberation Tuesday.
Denton-McCaster murdered her husband, Norman McCaster, in October 2012 and dismembered him, cutting off his head, arms and feet. She also faced charges of concealing a homicide for hiding his body in rural Mechanicsburg, which authorities found several days later.
The victim’s mother, Frederskea Morsby says the verdict brings closure and healing.
“I’m happy, I’m happy. It just hurts” Morsby says. She credits the states’ attorneys office with bringing closure to the 18-month old murder.
Police were led to Denton-McCaster through a receipt found near the scene for a reciprocal saw, which store footage showed her buying the same day. A former UIS classmate also testified Denton-McCaster borrowed a gun, and returned it days later with two rounds missing.
She’ll be sentenced in late June and faces at least 90 years behind bars.
