Murder Charges Expected in Coles County Case

Murder charges are expected in the Coles County case of Joshua Mefford.

The 25-year-old Mefford is accused of causing the death of Robert Montague of Mattoon during an altercation at the US Grant Motel in Mattoon Saturday night.  Autopsy findings indicate that Montague's death was due to head injuries inflicted without the use of a weapon.

The Mattoon man is to be charged with causing Montague's death and with robbery for taking a bank bag from Montague during the incident, which occurred outside the motel office located along Lake Land Boulevard about 10:30pm.  Montague died of his injuries on Sunday.

Mefford is expected to make his first court appearance in the case on September 24.