Monica Drury, Pierce Fisher, Tara Hickman, Libby ONeall, Destiny Sprouse, Leslie Vasquez

Mr. Sheffield
12 April 2016
Comp 122
Position Paper-Prosecution
Claim:
The Prosecution finds Barton Monroe McNeil, the Defendant, guilty of first-degree
murder of his daughter Christina McNeil, the victim, on June 16, 1998, by means of suffocation.
The Defendant was formally charged with the murder in July 1999 by THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE OF ILLINOIS. He is currently serving 100 years at Menard Correctional Center in
Southern Illinois.
Summary of the Case:
On June 15th, 1998, Barton Monroe McNeil had custody of his daughter Christina while
her mother, Tita McNeil, was working a late night shift at the hospital. Later that night, Bart put
Christina to bed around 10:30 according to the routine. McNeil stated that he had gone to bed at
2 a.m. after checking on Christina, and then fell asleep at 2:45 a.m. because there were severe
thunder and lightning outside. The next morning at 7:40 a.m., McNeil called Christina to get up
and get dressed but when he received no response, he went to her room and found her lying
motionless in her bed. After calling 911 and attempting CPR, paramedics came and pronounced
that three-year-old Christina was dead. The investigation into the murder began immediately,
and the only conclusion that could be drawn from the initial findings was that McNeil was guilty.
Over interviews by detectives, McNeil continued to suggest that Misook Nowlin, his
former girlfriend, was guilty of the murder. As the interviews continued, detectives concluded
that McNeil and Nowlin had broken off their three-year relationship the night before the murder.
Details also indicated that there had been an issue of domestic violence within their relationship.
Interviews from both parties suggest that there was an equal amount of guilt for the violence.
The violence was directed toward each other, not Christina, or Nowlins daughter Michelle.
Initial Findings:
When detectives created the timeline of events, they established that McNeil was the only
one in the house that night. It leads the prosecution to believe that someone had to break in to
commit the murder. Police did not find any indication of an unauthorized entrance to the
residence through the front door, except for small holes in the lower corners of the window in the
victims room. Detectives determined that the holes were large enough to insert their fingers
inside and open the locks from the outside. A fan that had been previously anchored securely to
the window had fallen onto the floor. Some DNA had been taken from the window sill during
the investigation but had not been tested.

The initial evidence indicated that Christinas bed sheets, pillowcase, and clothing were
stained with unidentifiable bodily fluids, which were later classified as urine and blood. None of
the fluids were tested for the victims DNA. The coroners report stated that Christina had died
of asphyxiation between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. After the examination, the coroner also concluded
that Christinas body showed signs of molestation. When Detective Shepherd implied that there
was something that was not right with Christinas body, McNeil immediately suggested that it
was possible that Christina had been molested. The urine and blood stains, as well as, the DNA
from the window sill, are currently undergoing testing, which was asked for by the Illinois
Innocence Project; the results should be released the end of April 2016.
Position:

The coroners report indicated that Christina had suffered molestation over a long period
of time. As stated in the earlier findings, McNeil had suggested the idea of molestation when
Detective Shepherd stated that there was something abnormal about Christinas body. From his
peculiar behavior, it can be concluded that he was attempting to cover up his past indiscretions
and his feelings of guilt. The abnormalities on Christinas body included the enlarged state of
her rectum, as well as the evidence of vaginal bleeding. There were also stains on the bed sheets,
later identified as urine. The vaginal bleeding and urine stains are both signs that a child is being
molested according to Mayo Clinic. Research has also shown that molestation is likely to
happen during divorce. Even though McNeil and Nowlin were not experiencing a divorce, they
were still ending a three-year-long relationship. Not only was there factual evidence of the
crime, but McNeils story also showed many inconsistencies. Reports denote that the
inconsistencies within McNeils story include where he was and what he was doing at the time of
the murder, as well as his belief about who the murderer was.

Witnesses:

The Prosecution will call Detective Shepherd, Tara Cheek, and Misook Nowlin to the
stand. Detective Shepherd will give his interpretation on the entire case due to his contributions
to the initial report and position within the McLean legal system. Tara Cheek, McNeals
neighbor, will establish McNeils obsessive and unstable behavior patterns. Cheek will also
provide insight on the location of McNeil during the murder of Christina. Despite Nowlin,
McNeils former girlfriend, being a prime suspect in the initial investigation, the prosecution
believes that it will be helpful for her to be questioned by both sides of the case. Nowlin will
provide a new understanding of the factual and circumstantial evidence. As a whole, our

witnesses offer testimonies that make our case stronger, which will ultimately lead to a
successful outcome for our client.