Jeremy Boshears Murder Conviction Overturned: What's Happening With The Case Now

JOLIET, IL — It's been 19 months since Will County Judge Dave Carlson announced he was overturning the convictions of Jeremy Boshears for first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide in the November 2017 disappearance and gunshot slaying of Katie Kearns, a 24-year-old bartender on the east side of Joliet. The judge ordered the Coal City resident and former Joliet Outlaws motorcycle gang member to undergo a new trial.

However, as summer winds down, it does not appear Boshears will have his second murder trial at any point in 2025. A trial date has not been scheduled on the judge's calendar. The case is now assigned to Judge Jessica Colon-Sayre because Carlson left the bench to return to private practice as a lawyer.

As for Boshears, who is now 40 years old, he remains in the Will County Jail, where he has been since the Will County Sheriff's Office arrested him on Nov. 18, 2017.

Kearns' body was found inside the back of her Jeep Wrangler, and the vehicle was found inside a barn in rural Kankakee County.

After the jury's verdict was read on May 2, 2022, Boshears wept in court, saying repeatedly, "I didn't kill her."

During his jury trial more than three years ago, Boshears testified in his defense, claiming Katie Kearns grabbed a loaded handgun that one of his fellow Joliet Outlaws left behind the bar, inside the Outlaws clubhouse, and shot herself in the head as he begged her not to do it.

After the shooting, Boshears testified he contacted other members of the Joliet Outlaws and with their help, Kearns' body was placed into a pool table covering and loaded into the back of her Jeep. Boshears drove her body to the farm property of a former Joliet Outlaws president and after leaving the vehicle in the barn, Boshears got a ride back to his house in Coal City.

According to Joliet Patch's review of Will County Courthouse files, there have been two notable developments so far this year as Boshears prepares for a retrial. Both developments were initiated by Joliet criminal defense lawyer Chuck Bretz, who has represented Boshears for the past eight years.

Back in late March, Judge Colon agreed with Bretz's motion seeking permission to appoint an expert witness and provide expert fees due to his client being indigent. The judge granted Bretz's motion for the appointment of Jeffrey Gurvis as the defense's bloodstain pattern analyst for the initial retainer fee.

"The County of Will is ordered to pay the sum of $3,000 for the initial retainer for Mr. Gurvis for services rendered as to this matter," Judge Colon ordered.

Furthermore, the judge noted that both sides agree that Gurvis will be allowed access to the evidence examined by the Will County State's Attorney's Office expert, Paul Kish of New York, "relative to his bloodstain pattern analysis performed for the state," court files show.

Then, at the end of July, Judge Colon issued her second order, granting Bretz's latest request. The judge noted that Bretz had asked for permission to appoint another expert and provide expert fees due to Boshears being indigent. According to her order, Microtrace, based in Elgin, is now appointed as Boshears' gunshot residue expert and "The County of Will is ordered to pay the sum of $2,800 for the initial retainer for Microtrace for services rendered as to this matter."

Back on June 25, Bretz filed his motion seeking the appointment of a gunshot residue expert witness for his client, noting that "the State intends to assert in their case in chief that certain GSR evidence or lack thereof does not mitigate the likelihood that the defendant was the shooter in this cause ... it cannot be overstated that it is critical for the defendant to have his own expert examine the evidence pertaining to GSR in this case," Bretz argued.

As for Boshears, his next appearance in Courtroom 502 is set for Sept. 26. November will mark the eight-year anniversary of Katie Kearns' homicide. Kearns' last day alive was a Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017.

She lived at her father's Mokena house, along with her sister and the family's dog. Katie Kearns also had two adult brothers who lived on their own. Kearns worked at a breakfast restaurant called Caffe Milan in Frankfort, and she had a part-time job as a bartender in Joliet at Woody's, her father testified during the original trial, in April 2022.

"I had said goodbye as she was going out the door ... that was the last time I saw her," her father testified.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Joliet Outlaws Murder Defendant Won't Go Home After All: New Judge

New Trial For Jeremy Boshears In Katie Kearns Murder

Boshears Became A Killer Once He Got His Outlaw Patch: Egan