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PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - A jury has found a 34-year-old man guilty of first-degree murder in the beating deaths of five of his ex-wife's relatives in central Illinois.

The verdict in the trial of Christopher Harris was announced Friday.

In sometimes tearful testimony, Harris admitted to killing 14-year-old Dillen Constant. But Harris said he did so only after the teenager bashed the rest of his family to death at their home in Beason in September 2009.

Harris was also accused in the deaths of Dillen's mother, Ruth Gee; his stepfather, Rick Gee; his 16-year-old sister, Justina Constant; and 11-year-old stepbrother Austin Gee.

Harris' brother, Jason Harris, testified that Christopher Harris told him he killed all five victims after a night of drinking and drug use.

Almost two years to the day after Jacque Waller went missing, Cape Girardeau authorities say they found her body.

Waller, the mother of triplets, went to meet with her estranged husband Clay Waller on June 1, 2011. The two were getting together to talk about their divorce. Jacque was not seen alive after that meeting. Clay Waller was already facing murder charges for allegedly killing Jaque.

He is already in jail for harassing Jacque's sister.

CHICAGO (AP) - Police say a Chicago man charged in the death of a 6-month old girl was gang member who was retaliating for the theft of a video game console.

   Sally Daly, a spokeswoman for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, says Koman Willis is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. A bond hearing is set for Tuesday.

   Jonylah Watkins was killed March 11 while sitting in her father's lap in a minivan. Police say the dad, Jonathan Watkins, was the intended target. Watkins was seriously wounded.

   The shooting took place in the middle of the day in the Woodlawn neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. It was one of several earlier this year that brought attention to the gang violence in Chicago.

Charges are filed against the former police officer who shot a man during an argument last night.

James Little faces several charges including 1st degree murder for shooting and killing Will Dupree. St. Louis Police say Little was dropping his child off at the home of the child's mother. That is when Little and Dupree started arguing. The incident escalated and Little allegedly shot Dupree several times.

Dupree was pronounced dead that scene. Little once served as a police officer, but left the force in 2007.

Still very little information after a man was shot and killed in north St. Louis this morning.

Police say they found 20-year-old Jermaine Johnson on the street near the city's border with Pine Lawn around 2 AM. Witnesses told officers they heard the gunshots, but did not know much more about the shooting.

   The murder of a north city teen is bringing a community together in an effort to combat violence.  His family watched in horror as 16 year old Pierre Childs was shot in the back in front of his home May 7th. Police have no suspects in his murder.  

   Tuesday night the teen's family, police and a group called "Positive Alternatives for Youth, Inc." held a town hall meeting to work on a plan to curb violence in north St. Louis.  The plan includes drug sweeps and increased police patrols along with workforce training and GED classes.  

   St. Louis Police Major Ronnie Robinson says his department is backing the plan. "This is an issue for us, a very important issue of concern because of the fact that summertime is coming," he said.  "And you know, as the hotter it gets, sometimes it gets more aggressive on the streets as far as criminal activity is concerned."

   It's not known yet if Mayor Francis Slay or the Board of Aldermen will do the same.

The town of Percy, Illinois said a final farewell to the four children killed in last Friday's house fire.

12-year-old Ethan, 9-year-old Kailey, and 5-year-old twins Brandon and Landon Owen died in the fire. Their parents and a cousin escaped the burning home. Derrick Twardoski faces four murder charges in connection to the fire.

Prosecutors say they believe they know why he set the fire, but are not releasing the motive ahead of the trial.

ST. LOUIS (AP) - More than 11 years after Mitchell Osburn was arrested in the stabbing deaths of three Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District workers, the case is finally resolved.

Osburn entered an Alford Plea Tuesday to three counts of each of first-degree murder and armed criminal assault. The plea is not an admission of guilt but a concession that there is enough evidence for a conviction.

Sentencing will be July 12.

The three workers in their 40s - Steven Weiss, Joseph Bisso and Robert Whitson - were among five sewer district workers socializing after a day of work at Lion's Park in the St. Louis County town of Valley Park on March 8, 2002.

Police said Osburn attacked them with a knife. He did not know the victims.

VALLEY SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — The sheriff of Calaveras County in Northern California says residents "can sleep a little better" now.

The community of Valley Springs was shaken last month by the mysterious stabbing death of an 8-year-old girl. The girl's 12-year-old brother told police he found her body and an intruder in their home, setting off a manhunt.

Authorities yesterday arrested the 12-year-old. The sheriff says the boy will be charged with homicide.

   Detectives with the St. Louis Major Case Squad are looking for a suspect in the execution-style death of a Normandy man.  

   Police say 30 year old Markquette Nunn had been using a weed trimmer in the front yard of his home in the 7600 block of Bermuda Court about 12:45Wednesday afternoon when someone shot him in the back of the head.  

   A neighbor heard the shot and came outside just in time to see a man running from the scene.  Nunn was pronounced dead at the scene.  

   Police say Nunn shared the home with his girlfriend and their baby son, who were not home at the time of the shooting.  A friend who also lived in the home was inside when Nunn was shot.  He told police he heard the shot, then look outside to see Nunn collapsed in the yard.  

   Police say they have very little to go in so far.  Anyone with information is urged to call the Major Case Squad – via Normandy Police at 314-385-3300, ext. 3018.