Belleville man gets 20 years for fatal beating, stabbing of 34-year-old

A Belleville man will spend 20 years in prison for fatally beating a man with a baseball bat and stabbing him.

Jeremy N. Jackson, 34, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Monday in the death of 34-year-old Nathan Funkhouser. A statement of facts presented in court said Funkhouser wielded a knife at Jackson, and had alcohol, cocaine and opioids in his system, said St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly.

“The victim’s family is glad we were able to obtain a first-degree murder conviction in this case,” Kelly said.

Police believe Funkhouser was killed in a Belleville residence on Feb. 27, 2016. His body, however, wasn’t discovered until a few days later. Police found a towel, baseball bat and knife after Funkhouser’s body was found.

Jackson struck Funkhouser in the head with a baseball bat, then stabbed him in the chest with a knife, authorities said.

This story was originally published August 10, 2017 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Belleville man gets 20 years for fatal beating, stabbing of 34-year-old."