Man charged in connection with Edwardsville attorney’s death pleads not guilty
Timothy Banowetz, accused in the death of prominent Edwardsville attorney Randy Gori, was indicted Thursday by a Madison County grand jury.
Banowetz, 28, of Wentzville, Missouri, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him on Thursday, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons said. Those charges include three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated unlawful restraint and one count of aggravated offenses relating to motor vehicles.
Banowetz remained in Madison County jail without bond on Thursday.
Banowetz is accused of binding the hands of Gori and two minors at Gori’s home in rural Edwardsville on Jan. 4 before stabbing Gori to death and stealing cash, two cell phones and a 2020 Rolls-Royce SUV from the house.
Police found Banowetz hours later in a wooded area nearby.
According to First Assistant State’s Attorney Crystal Uhe, the first-degree murder charges each carry a potential sentence of 20 to 60 years in prison, but could be extended to natural life in prison, depending on the circumstances.
On Jan. 13, Gibbons requested the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois investigate Gori’s death and prosecute Banowetz with the federal death penalty.
In response, U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft said his office would review any case it is asked to investigate, but that it cannot decide whether federal law was violated until it receives all of the facts of the case.
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