KANKAKEE — On the day of Sarah Washington’s murder, her accused killer, Rex Frank, contradicted himself during phone conversations with one of Washington’s close friends.

The testimony highlighted the third day of Frank’s trial on Wednesday, which is expected to run through the week.

Frank is accused of shooting and killing the 25-year-old Washington in her apartment on June 26, 2014, in Kankakee. He is facing first-degree murder charges.

Since he already is serving a 45-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to the July 2014 shooting death of Rian Maiden, Frank is facing a sentence of natural life if convicted.

<strong>Conversations</strong>

Washington’s friend, Kashawna Roberts, testified that Frank called her on the afternoon of June 26 telling her “that something bad happened’ at the apartment of Washington and her longtime boyfriend, Greg Dismuke.

Roberts said after she called and talked to Dismuke, she called Frank back, recording the call, as well as when Frank called her back.

During the first recorded conversation, Frank said he was at the apartment twice that day talking with Dismuke.

Dismuke testified on Tuesday the two men talked twice. The second time Dismuke told Frank he was going to Harvey with two men to buy cellphones.

Roberts said 5 minutes after she hung up with Frank, he called her back and said he was at the apartment a third time. He said he talked to Washington, who told him Dismuke was not there.

When asked by Roberts why did he go a third time, Frank told her he didn’t know Dismuke was gone.

Roberts went to the 600 block of South Poplar Avenue where Washington lived in an upstairs apartment.

When interviewed by police, she told them about her phone conversations with Frank.

<strong>The gun</strong>

A Taurus .380 handgun Frank said he used in Maiden’s death also is believed to have been used to shoot Washington, an aspiring model who worked at Riverside Medical Center.

Robert Hunton, a now retired forensic scientist with the Illinois State Police, testified it was his opinion shell casings recovered at the scenes of each murder were fired from the same gun.

Frank shot Maiden twice in the head after forcing him to give his PIN number and ATM card. Frank used money he withdrew to buy a ring and other items for a woman he was dating.

In July 2015, Frank agreed to plead guilty to first-degree murder but mentally ill.

At his sentencing, Frank said he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after he was the victim of a carjacking and botched robbery in April 2014.

That incident ended when he shot and killed 18-year-old Cleophus Reed, one of the alleged perpetrators. The other, Omar Keys, 17, is serving 30 years for armed robbery.

<strong>Robbed</strong>

Former Kankakee County Sheriff’s deputy Adam Marcotte testified about a report he took from Frank on June 29, 2014. Frank said he had been robbed of money, jewelry and the .380 handgun, which was given to Frank by Mitchell Ledbetter back in 2011.

Prosecutor Joe Kosman asked Marcotte how Frank was acting when he was taking the report.

“He was very calm,” Marcotte said.

Public defender Lawrence Beaumont asked Marcotte if it was unusual to be unable to see if a person was hit or not.

“No,” Marcotte said.

“You were not suspicious of his story?” Beaumont said.

“No,” Marcotte said.

Ledbetter said he left the gun for protection.