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Illinois Pastor Seeks Reward Money from FBI, Local Police Ow

GOLCONDA, Ill. (AP) - A southern Illinois pastor says he still hasn't received reward money for a tip he gave two years ago to the FBI and police about a man accused of shooting an officer.

Sulphur Springs Baptist Church Pastor John Kunath told authorities in 2016 that he believed Dracy Pendleton broke into his church and also shot a Mahomet police officer. Illinois records show Pendleton died in a shootout near the church cemetery in May 2016.

Kunath says he doesn't understand why he hasn't received the FBI's $10,000 reward or the Champaign County Crime Stoppers' $1,000 reward. The 74-year-old says he'd like to use the money to repair his church.

Champaign police Sgt. Geoff Coon says a tip "must lead to an arrest or recovery of evidence that solves a crime." Pendleton was never arrested in the case.

 

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