A man accused in the killing of a Jacksonville woman and her unborn baby will spend the rest of his life in jail, according to the State Attorney's Office.
Convicted killer Russell Tillis gets 2 life sentences plus 30 extra years
Tillis, 60, guilty of kidnapping & killing 30-year-old Joni Gunter
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Tillis sentenced
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A judge on Tuesday sentenced convicted killer Russell Tillis to two life sentences plus 30 extra years.
Tillis, 60, was found guilty in April of first-degree murder, kidnapping and dismemberment in the death of 30-year-old Joni Gunter. For the counts of murder and kidnapping, Tillis received back-to-back life sentences. For the count of abuse of a dead body, he got 30 extra years.
Tillis has been sentenced to 2 life sentences for murder & kidnapping + 30 extra years for dismemberment of dead human body @wjxt4 Scott Johnson (@WJXTScottJ) June 1, 2021
After Russell Tillis denial, attorneys begin closing arguments in murder trial news4jax.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news4jax.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Russell Tillis takes the stand in his own defense at murder trial
Woman’s dismembered body found buried in Tillis’ yard in 2016
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After years of battling the attorneys defending him and the judge assigned to try his case, Russell Tillis finally went to trial this week in the murder of Joni Gunter, whose dismembered remains were found on his property in 2016.
On the second day of the trial, Tillis took the stand in his own defense.
[PRESS PLAY ABOVE TO WATCH LIVE STREAM FROM COURT]
The first day of the trial Wednesday featured grim details of Gunter’s death and the day ended with the playing of a jailhouse confession that Tillis now claims he made up. The second day of the trial began with a continuation of the recording. Prosecutors played audio recorded with a hidden microphone inside the Duval County jail where Tillis confesses to killing Gunter. At one point, when Tillis learns his property is being bulldozed, he i