A Peoria man has been found guilty of first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend in 2021.
A Peoria County jury returned the guilty verdict against Joshua McGee on Wednesday, according to a media release by the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office.
McGee, 39, was convicted of killing Ashley Tankersley following a three-day trial. Her body was discovered in a roadside ditch near Jubilee College State Park in August 2021. She had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and later died at a local hospital.
Sheriff’s deputies reported to the scene in response to a 911 call later traced to McGee’s phone, prosecutors said. They were able to track the phone to an interstate rest stop near Springfield, and McGee was taken into custody later that day following an hours-long standoff with law enforcement.
A search of McGee’s vehicle produced a handgun, two spent shell casings, Tankersley’s purse, and her phone, prosecutors said. His shoes also cwere ollected, and testing later revealed they contained Tankersley’s blood, prosecutors said.
During the trial, a firearms expert testified the shell casings were fired from the gun found in McGee’s car. Additional testimony indicated McGee’s phone records and GPS data placed him at the scene of the murder.
Jurors also convicted McGee of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2.
