IL v Joshua R. Casey – Moss and Ink local

STREATOR, Ill. — Joshua R. Casey, of Streator, has been charged with first degree murder and concealment of a homicidal death in connection with the March 4, 2025 death of 37-year-old Jessica M. Balma, whose body was found at a residence on East Elm Street in Streator. The case is being prosecuted in LaSalle County Circuit Court. Casey was indicted by a grand jury on March 25, 2025 and remains in custody; proceedings are ongoing.

By Willow Moss | Moss and Ink | Article updated June 1, 2026

Case Status

Current status: Charged and indicted; pre-trial proceedings ongoing (most recent: evidentiary hearing held June 1, 2026)
Charges: First Degree Murder (20–60 years) and Concealment of a Homicidal Death (2–5 years)
Custody status: In custody; home confinement with electronic monitoring denied
Court: LaSalle County Circuit Court
Prosecution: by LaSalle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro
Defense: Mike Leonard
Last updated: June 1, 2026

Incident Overview

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Streator police responded to a residence at 1107 East Elm Street, where they discovered the body of a woman. LaSalle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro quickly described the death as “very suspicious,” confirming that investigators already had a suspect in mind, though the victim’s identity was withheld pending family notification.

That same evening, Streator Police Chief John C. Franklin and Deputy Chief Robert E. Wood addressed the media in an official statement. They confirmed the death but declined to provide details about the circumstances, victim, or potential motives, citing the need to notify the victim’s family first.

Pictured: Victim Jessica M. Balma

Rumors immediately started spreading that the death may be related to drugs, more specifically fentanyl, which also could have explained the involvement of TRI-DENT for the investigation.

Initial Investigation

The next updates were given on Thursday, March 6th 2025. The victim was publicly identified as 37 year old Mother of two, Jessica M. Balma who, according to law enforcement, was allegedly visiting two males at the house she was ultimately found in.

Balma’s autopsy had been completed within just 48 hours after she was found, by the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office. The alleged perpetrator was named as 38 year old married Father of 2, Joshua R. Casey, also a resident of Streator. He had been charged with Murder ( a possible 20 to 60 year sentence ) as well as the concealment of a homicidal death ( a 2 to 5 year possible sentence ). Casey’s residence at 1425 East Hickory Street, Streator, had been searched and secured by law enforcement and Casey himself was arrested later that day.

Pictured: Joshua Casey during his first court appearance

An anonymous source had confirmed to us at this time that “a closed casket will be needed” for Jessica Balma due to the extent of the injuries she sustained.

During the investigation, more specifically on March 7th 2025, deleted text messages from the accused Joshua Casey, had allegedly been recovered. The content of the recovered messages was not made public. That same day, Casey had his first court appearance at which the assigned Public Defender D. Kramarsic requested additional time to prepare for the upcoming pre-trial release hearing scheduled for March 20th 2025. Until then, he was to remain in custody at the LaSalle County Jail in Ottawa, IL. During the hearing, Casey reportedly stared downward at the Defense table as he was admonished for his charges by the Honorable Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr.

Official Press Conference

The official press conference via the LaSalle County State Attorney Joe Navarro was livestreamed to Facebook at noon on March 10th 2025 and the following was stated:

Jessica Balma was found rolled up inside a carpet in the messy residence, which he stated was not occupied 24/7 but rather used as a “crash pad” and “party pad”.
The “big crime scene” was discovered after a neighbor made a 911 call. Loads of evidence, including blood and hair samples were found and subsequently sent to the Crime Lab for DNA analysis.
Overall, due to the size of the crime scene “very many items” had been collected as evidence, aside from the blood and hair samples, and sent to the crime lab for analysis as well.
Jessica Balma’s cause of death was officially announced as manual strangulation as determined by the Coroner.
An official motive for the crime, while law enforcement had an idea, was not made public.
It was stated that the arrested and accused Joshua Casey had admitted to a female witness that “he did it” but that other people were also involved, as well as having made 2 admissions to law enforcement. Note that Casey has denied ever having made any sort of admission to anyone and claims innocence to this day.
A total of 17 other individuals had been interviewed over a 10 to 12 hour period with most being semi-cooperative with law enforcement.
The owner of the crime scene property was publicly named and it was stated he had a conversation with Casey close to the time of the Homicide.
“At least 5 search warrants” had been issued and followed through with.
Overall, it seemed clear the people holding the press conference did not do them often, which is also a good thing. That said, it was stated someone was told the “news of Casey’s death”, an obvious misspeaking in switching the alleged perpetrators name with the victims, which upset quite a few people in the comments.
Additional charges against Casey were not being excluded at the time of the press conference.
Casey was supposedly looking to retain private counsel prior to his next court hearing.

The press conference ended with Navarro thanking the present Deputy Chief Robert Wood for “cracking the whip on all these people”, which seemed odd as only one person has been charged.

Comments Made by Community Members

Local online comments on the Facebook live of the press conference did not disappoint:

Note that we are merely sharing publicly made comments and do not share some of these opinions!

“Not a good or professional presentation.” -H.A.
“He (Joe Navarro, State Attorney) should have correct info before speaking” -D.B.
“Corruption runs deep in LaSalle County” -J.H.
“I got secondhand embarrassment from listening to this. Wrong names, info. And I don’t think he (Joe Navarro) knew most those peoples names standing by him. smh.” -S.J.
“You’d think a person in his position could sound a little bit more polished and professional.” -T.D.
“Sad. Very unprofessional” -T.M.
“He (Joe Navarro) could not even remember the Streator Detective’s name.” -L.W.E.
“… then you got this guy (Joe Navarro) talking. Can’t barely spit out a full sentence, stammering and stuttering. um, um, um. And he forgot to mention who he (Casey) texted to get help to try and remove the body” -M.M. edited for spelling and grammar
“Don’t get caught up on the messenger, just be glad we got the message. People make mistakes all the time in press conferences” -J.W.D.
“Why does it seem like he was just told to speak about a case that he knew nothing about?” -E.S.
Language Warning: “I hope everyone reads my comment. They’re (Law Enforcement) telling you bullshit. … It’s because they sell (drugs). County let the drug dealer out to be an informant to sell the drug in Streator to knock everybody out… the street. PD is giving him the drug to put on the street that’s killing people in your town” -J.W.B.
“The main guy (Joe Navarro) talking acts like he has no clue what to say” -T.M.W.
“Joe (Navarro) is too busy terrorizing crime victims to get his facts straight about such a tragic case before speaking. It’s apparently just who he is” -A.M.
“Definitely condolences to her (victim Jessica Balma) family. No one deserves this.” -D.B.

Case Timeline & Proceedings

Court Proceedings

The pre-trial hearing scheduled for March 20th 2025 was pushed back a week to March 27th 2025, due to Casey not yet having retained private counsel.

Just two days before that next hearing, March 25th 2025, Casey was officially indicted by a grand jury and charged with First Degree Murder and Concealment of a homicidal death. The Judge stated his denial of home confinement with an ankle monitor prior to the scheduled trial date due to the evidence having shown to him both the planning of the murder as well as the alleged attempt to hide the body. He openly called Casey a “risk to the public”.

On August 29th 2025, which was supposed to be the start of the Trial, a Status Hearing was held instead. Even individuals closer to the case attended with the mindset of a trial beginning, having not been informed otherwise. A clean shaven, both head and beard, Casey appeared in court wearing the usual orange-white jail suit and orange slippers. After the days opening by Judge Vescogni, the case was quickly introduced. Both parties agreed that Casey, represented by Mike Leonard of the Leonard Trial Lawyers based out of Chicago, will plead ‘Not Guilty’, and the next Status Hearing has been scheduled for October 6th 2025 at 9am, at which point a Trial date should be set. The Trial is most likely to begin in early 2026.

On October 6th, at the Status Hearing, it was decided to continue this case for yet another status hearing as requested by the Defense, which is now scheduled for December 19th 2025. Until then, the Defendant is to remain in the LaSalle County Jail.

On said December 19th Status Hearing, with a skinnier but fitter looking Casey, it was discussed that both the State and the Defense had agreed to set the matter for another Status Hearing on January 21st 2026 and both parties proposed a potential Trial Date of early May 2026.

The January Hearing was canceled but rescheduled for just a few days later on January 26th. Case status was discussed by both sides, and continued for another Status Hearing on March 23rd, but also put on the Trial schedule. The final pre-trial hearing is currently scheduled for May 15th 2026 with the Jury trial starting on June 1st 2026.

The Last-Minute Motion Hearing on May 15th, scheduled just two days prior, was quite interesting! A tense-looking, cuffed Casey was brought into the courtroom by jailers for his hearing to dismiss all charges with prejudice, given new evidence and information recently obtained by the Defense. Casey’s Defense made its argument via the following facts: A female individual had obtained potential evidence ( undescribed in court as to what, but otherwise alleged to have been bloody ) and attempted to hand said evidence to both Marshall County authorities, who dismissed her and sent her to the Streator Police Department ( the investigating agency ), where she was again dismissed and told to just dispose of said potential homicide-case evidence. The Defense stated there is a documented “timeline of communication” between said female, who did end up keeping the evidence, and the Streator Police Department. She made efforts to preserve the evidence as best as she could until just a few days ago, 14 MONTHS after the crime, the evidence was ultimately “handed over” to Law Enforcement. The ‘evidence’ is currently undergoing testing, after 14 months without a chain of evidence, appropriate storage, and degradation of potential biologic material due to time and unknown storage conditions. Now the Defense states that evidence appears to be missing, and, due to the above issues with time, storage, etc., there is little, if any, evidentiary value remaining. All of those issues would result in “no outcome with a resemblance of justice” if a trial were to occur. The Defense concludes its statement by asking the following question and requesting an evidentiary hearing: Is there any additional evidence that was never found? Are there more people out there with knowledge that were never interviewed?

Laura Hall answers the defense’s motion for the State by initially being surprised with such a short-notice hearing ( excuse for potential lack of preparation? ), followed by her stating she “doesn’t agree with everything” the Defense stated, and that the initial Officer informed of said potentially relevant evidence “had his reasons” to not deem them relevant, followed by questioning if they’re even relevant now. She repeats once again that Casey made admissions of guilt multiple times, which made him shake his head ‘no’ slightly, consistent with his repeated and consistent denial of ever having made said admissions. She called the reasoning behind the Defense’s motion “not appropriate for dismissal“.

Judge Vescogni listened to both sides and did not make a decision on the dismissal today. The hearing on May 22nd was cancelled, and the evidentiary hearing was scheduled for the morning of June 1st, 2026, which was supposed to be the first day set for the Jury Trial in this case.

Latest Update

The Evidentiary Hearing held June 1, 2026, focused heavily on questions surrounding the collection, handling, and preservation of potential evidence.
Defense attorney Mike Leonard first called a female witness, identified here as ES, who had several items she believed could have evidentiary value. ES testified that she received the items from another individual, not the defendant, shortly after the crime occurred.
ES stated she was contacted by JH, who asked to be picked up at a Casey’s location in Streator. Upon arriving, she observed what she described as a “drastic” change in his appearance, noting that he had gone from having longer hair and a long beard to being bald and clean-shaven.
According to ES, JH stayed with her for a period of time, during which he appeared nervous and seemed to be hiding, not leaving the house. After leaving, he left behind clothing, a cell phone, and two bats of different sizes.
ES testified that, based on the items left behind and an unrelated incident in which JH allegedly stole $5,000 from her, she contacted authorities in Marshall County. A deputy responded to her residence, where she discussed the items and their possible connection to a criminal case. ES testified the deputy described the situation as “suspicious” and advised her that Marshall County would contact the Streator Police Department, the investigating agency, and that she should expect follow-up communication.
On March 25, 2025, ES met with Streator Police Officer Phillips at her workplace. She testified that Phillips briefly examined the items in the trunk of her vehicle, with his eyes only, for approximately “5 to 10 seconds” before returning to his squad car, where she believed he contacted his supervisor, lead investigator Sgt. Ryne Reel. After approximately 30 seconds, Phillips returned and told her the items had been determined to be “not related, throw them away.”
ES testified that she did not dispose of the items. Instead, she asked an acquaintance, identified as RR, to store them. The items remained at RR’s residence for approximately six months. During that time, ES stated she had no way of knowing whether the items had been touched, moved, or stored elsewhere. She estimated that 30 to 40 people may have entered or left the residence during that period.
Earlier in 2026, ES retrieved the items and placed them back in the trunk of her vehicle.
On May 6, 2026—more than 14 months after her initial attempt to turn the items over to law enforcement—ES received a phone call from Sgt. Reel. According to her testimony, Reel said he had learned about the potential evidence and wanted to discuss it. The two met at Marilla Park in Streator for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. ES testified that Reel appeared “confused” when she explained the timeline and circumstances surrounding the items. Following the meeting, Reel accompanied her to her residence, where she surrendered the items.
Assistant State’s Attorney Matt Kidder then cross-examined ES regarding the accuracy of dates she provided during her testimony and sought more specific timelines. He also questioned whether JH had access to the items while staying at her residence and characterized portions of her testimony regarding their relevance as “guesswork.”
Kidder further questioned why ES chose to store the items at RR’s residence, which was described in testimony as an alleged drug house. ES responded that she did not want to keep the items in her own home around her children. Kidder also questioned why the deputy’s alleged use of the word “suspicious” was not captured on body-camera footage and why ES did not contact police about the items until after the alleged theft of $5,000 by JH.

The Defense next called Sgt. Ryne Reel of the Streator Police Department, who served as lead investigator in the case.
When asked about departmental policies and procedures regarding homicide investigations, Reel testified, “I’m sure there is” a policy and “I’m sure I have read it,” but stated he did not know whether it was current, when it had last been updated, or where it could be located.
When asked whether he had been trained or instructed to dispose of potential evidence, Reel replied, “I don’t believe so, no.”
Reel testified that he “never instructed the witness (ES) to throw out potential evidence.”
He acknowledged that Officer Phillips contacted him in March 2025 regarding ES’s possession of “clothing and clubs,” one of which he recognized as a potential weapon.
During questioning, Reel stated that while ES may not have mentioned victim Jessica Balma by name, she did mention the defendant’s name, Casey. As the lead investigator, he should have been able to recognize either name as relevant.
Reel confirmed that Officer Phillips had contacted him regarding the items but testified he was not provided details about them. He stated that he did not instruct Phillips to examine the items, wear gloves, inventory them, collect them, or submit them for laboratory testing.
Under further questioning by Leonard, Reel confirmed he did not receive an inventory of the items, did not instruct Phillips to seize them, and did not know whether Casey had worn any of the clothing. Reel eventually testified that JH had told him some of the clothing belonged to Casey. He added:

“There’s no way of proving it at this point!” Lead Sergeant Ryne Reel

Reel confirmed he instructed Phillips not to seize the items but testified he did not know whether Phillips ultimately told ES to dispose of them.
He further testified that he “didn’t feel she (ES) was relevant” for approximately 14 months before later deciding to take possession of the items in May 2026.
According to Reel, the items ultimately collected included “a cell phone, two clubs and a knife,” a description that differed somewhat from ES’s testimony. He stated the items were turned over to him in a light-colored trash bag.
Questioning then focused on the collection and inventory of the evidence. Reel testified he inventoried “just what she gave me.” Testimony indicated additional items may have been present in the bag, though it remained unclear what those items were or whether they were examined.
Reel acknowledged that he did not know whether any of the items had ever contained blood, DNA, or fingerprints. He testified that the items had originally been deemed irrelevant and stated that he is not an evidence technician trained to identify or collect evidence.
Regarding the current status of the items, Reel testified that the clubs were submitted to the Illinois State Police crime laboratory, the cell phone was downloaded for information retrieval, and he believed the phone remained in evidence. Testimony also indicated uncertainty regarding ownership of the knife. During later questioning, a sweatshirt was additionally mentioned as a possible item connected to the evidence.

At that point, proceedings continued beyond the reporter’s attendance.

During cross-examination by attorney Laura Hall, two videos were admitted into evidence and published to the court.
One of the videos depicted Sgt. Reel meeting with ES to collect her statement and take possession of the items. Portions of the video included photographs taken when ES first received the bag of items. Visible in those photographs were a hooded sweatshirt, a pair of pants, and a cord or rope-like item. Testimony indicated those items were no longer present when the evidence was ultimately collected more than 14 months later.
The video also documented the transfer of the items from ES to Reel and the discussion surrounding their history and storage.
Outside of the video evidence, testimony addressed clothing belonging to RP, the owner of the residence where Jessica Balma’s body was found. It was discussed that RP’s clothing had not previously been collected or submitted for forensic testing because investigators had also determined those items were not relevant to the investigation at the time.
Following the lunch recess, Leonard conducted additional re-cross-examination of Reel.

The defense moved to keep the evidentiary hearing open pending the return of laboratory testing results and also requested that clothing belonging to RP be collected and tested.

The court granted the motion. A status hearing has been scheduled for July 17, 2026.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available. All information is sourced from publicly available law-enforcement releases, court filings, and official statements. Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

-Willow Moss