Dead Murder Witness Wasn’t Allowed to Leave House But to See Doctor, Lawyer, or For Weekly Religious Ceremony

JOLIET, IL — Unless he was going to see his doctor or his lawyer, or he was on his way back from a weekly religious excursion, the Joliet man killed in a Saturday night motorcycle wreck before he could testify against his alleged accomplice in an upcoming murder trial should have been home at his parents’ place.

A court order forbade 42-year-old Jermain Bennett from leaving his parents’ Minton Road home — except to see his attorney, Chuck Bretz, go to the doctor, or attend “one religious ceremony per week,” according to an April 27 court order prepared by special prosecutor Dave Neal.

The police have not yet said — if they even know — where Bennett was coming from or going to when he ran his motorcycle into the driver’s side of a Joliet woman’s Dodge Charger near the corner of Richards Street and Third Avenue.

Bennett died at short time later at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center.

The day after the deadly accident, a woman answering the phone at the Minton Road residence where he Bennett was supposed to be living declined to discuss the matter.

Bennett was released from jail less than three months ago after spending three and a half years in custody following the murder of 39-year-old Sean McGinn. Bennett and McGinn had owned the Cass Street boxing gym Team Joliet KO Zone together.

In August 2012, Bennett and another man, Kenneth Edwards, 48, allegedly set up a phony cocaine deal involving McGinn. McGinn reportedly headed to the area behind his downtown gym. When he arrived, he was shot twice.

A large sum of money was missing from McGinn’s car after the killing, according to police.

Bennett and Edwards were both charged with murder and armed robbery.

Bennett pleaded guilty to robbery in July and the murder charge was dismissed in exchange for his testimony against Edwards. Bennett’s bail was later reduced to $4,000 and he was freed April 27.

Edwards was actually released 16 months earlier to avoid violating his right to a speedy trial.

Neal said he was going to ask for Bennett to be sentenced to 25 years in prison. Bennett’s sentencing was scheduled for September.

Bennett was allegedly speeding when he collided with the Dodge. After the impact, he was pinned beneath his bike and the car, which was driven by 50-year-old Joliet resident Loria Ware, police said. Three passersby lifted the motorcycle off Bennett before firefighters arrived to rush him to the hospital.

Bennett was not wearing a helmet, police said. He suffered massive head and chest injuries and multiple fractures to his legs.

Doctors worked on Bennett for about an hour before he was pronounced deceased, according to police.

Police said Ware’s car smelled strongly of marijuana and that an officer found pot in her purse. Ware was taken to the hospital for a blood draw and then transported to the Will County jail, where she remains in custody.