New Counts Filed Against Shelby County Murder Suspect

New counts have been filed in the Shelby County murder case of Deven Barger.

(BARGER)

Barger is charged in the shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend, Samantha Cushing, by shooting her at a house in Shelbyville in July 2019. The incident also resulted in the death of the unborn child Cushing was carrying.

Following the shooting, Barger led authorities on a chase that reached the Effingham area and then headed to Taylorville where he surrendered. Barger's three-year-old daughter was with him during the pursuit. Authorities were aware the girl was in the vehicle and that dictated how they handled the pursuit.

Shelby County State's Attorney Gina Vonderheide has withdrawn from the case. Kate Kurtz of the Illinois State's Attorney's Appellate Prosecutor's Service has been appointed to prosecute the case.

During a hearing Monday, Kurtz filed six new counts; three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child. Those counts are Class M felonies, filed solely in death cases. 

Also Monday, Barger was remanded to custody of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department. He had been in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections while he completed serving mandatory supervised release for a prior crime. His supervised release was to expire Tuesday and authorities wanted to keep him in custody so was assigned to the custody of the sheriff's department. Barger had earlier asked to be returned to the sheriff's department, rather than the DOC.

The case is next due in court at 10am on June 24. There is still no trial date set. Barger is being held under $5 million bond.