Marseilles man arrested following homicide

One Marseilles man is dead and another Marseilles man is being held in the La Salle County Jail, awaiting the filing of a murder charge.

[ La Salle County prosecutor says Marseilles man admitted to killing his father ]

Logan M. Petre, 21, is in custody held on the suspicion of first-degree murder, according to the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office website.

Marseilles police responded to the 800 block of Opal Street to an unresponsive 54-year-old man on the living room floor, according to a news release. He was found dead. La Salle County Coroner Rich Ploch said a news release was pending.

However, La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro confirmed that Petre was taken into custody early Saturday after the investigation of a homicide reported the same morning.

Navarro declined additional comment, citing Illinois Supreme Court rules that prohibit prosecutors from discussing active cases.

Petre is expected to appear Monday in La Salle County Circuit Court for a detention hearing, at which time prosecutors would make an open-court disclosure on facts from the case.

Illinois abolished cash bail last autumn, and all suspects, including homicide defendants, receive a presumption of pretrial release. To date, however, no suspect charged with first-degree murder in La Salle County has been released from custody while awaiting trial.

Petre’s bid for pretrial release will be further complicated by the fact that he has three open cases, two of which involve forcible and/or violent felony charges.

According to La Salle County Circuit Court records, Petre is awaiting trial for a June 2023 home invasion. A month later, and after being granted pretrial release, he was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer. In November, he was charged with driving under the influence.

Marseilles police said the incident is isolated, and there is no threat to the public.