Donna and George Randy Julian Obituary, Death; – A police pursuit on July 3 resulted in the tragic deaths of a couple from Alton and led to murder charges against a man from St. Louis, as reported by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office.
According to investigators, Miko Martin, a 29-year-old from St. Louis, was driving recklessly at high speeds in an attempt to escape law enforcement when he disregarded a red light and collided with the vehicle of Donna and George “Randy” Julian, resulting in their deaths. The impact caused both vehicles to be propelled into a nearby ravine, where the victims’ car quickly ignited.
The incident occurred at the intersection of Illinois State Routes 143 and 3.
On Tuesday morning, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced the murder charges against Martin, along with several additional charges. Martin, who has a prior felony conviction, was found to be in possession of a stolen firearm. Authorities indicated that he is also currently on parole in Missouri.
“Our hearts go out to the friends and family of the Julians as they confront this sudden and devastating loss,” Haine stated. “Evading police is a conscious decision that can lead to irreversible consequences. When an individual flees from law enforcement and jeopardizes lives, they must be held fully accountable. These charges underscore the seriousness of such actions and should convey a clear message that intentionally putting the lives and safety of innocent citizens at risk will not be tolerated in our communities.”
The investigation was carried out by the Illinois State Police at the request of the Wood River Police Department. In a formal statement, Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells conveyed his “deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.”
