Murder Suspect Fairchild to Begin Treatment

A Charleston man found unfit to stand trial for murder is going to get to begin treatment.

26-year-old Joshua Fairchild is charged in the stabbing death of Cheleta Branch in 2021. Fairchild was living in a house in Charleston with the 50-year-old Branch, whose body was found hidden inside the home.

Fairchild was found unfit to stand trial in October, but the doctor who examined him said the defendant will be fit to stand trial within a year.

Judge Mitchell Shick remanded Fairchild to the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services but, as is often the case, there were no beds available for Fairchild. However, during a hearing Monday, Fairchild's attorney, Gina Vonderheide told the judge that DHS would be picking her client up Tuesday to take him to a facility where he can begin treatment.

A status hearing was scheduled for January 31 to monitor progress in Fairchild's case.