Suspect held in Ashton homicide: Man’s acquaintance faces charge of 
first-degree murder

ASHTON – A 28-year-old Ashton man is in jail, suspected of killing another Ashton man early Sunday with a blow to the head.

Eric M. Lemons was arrested around 9:30 a.m. Monday at his home at 502 Paddock St., and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Todd E. Harn, 28, whose body was found in a pool of blood in his second-floor apartment  at 604 Brown Ave., Apt. 2.

Lemons is expected to appear in court today.

One of Harn’s roommates found his body on the living room floor and called 911; Lee County Sheriff’s deputies arrived around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

An autopsy Monday showed that Harn had died from “blunt force trauma to the head,” Lee County Sheriff John Varga said. He declined to say what weapon was used or where it was found, or what, if anything, was found during a search of Lemons’ home early Monday.

“Right now, we’re trying to piece everything together,” Varga said.

Neighbors told police they heard yelling coming from the apartment early Sunday but did not see anyone entering or exiting.

According to witnesses, Lemons had been at the apartment complex several times since the middle of last week, Varga said.

Harn's roommates, a man and a woman with a toddler, also provided information that lead police to Lemons.

Harn was paroled in December after serving fewer than 6 months in prison for theft and obstruction of justice in Whiteside County.

He and Lemons were acquaintances who may have met at one of the local bars, Varga said, adding that police are still investigating the connection between the two.

Lemons has traffic and burglary convictions in Cook County, Varga said, adding that he didn’t yet know his full criminal history.

No drugs were found at Harn’s apartment, Varga said.

Police have responded to 911 hangups and drug-related incidences several times at that  complex, though. Last week, a string of 911 hangups were received, one of which came from Harn’s apartment, Varga said.