Homicide victim had criminal record

EDWARDSVILLE -- One of two homicide victims found near Alhambra during the weekend had a criminal history including residential burglary, writing bad checks and drug possession.

Derek M. Pitts, 48, of Edwardsville, most recently pleaded guilty in April 2003 to a 1998 residential burglary and was sentenced to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Court records also show a 1995 conviction for soliciting a prostitute, a misdemeanor; a 1996 felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance; a 1997 misdemeanor conviction for resisting a police officer; and two convictions in 1998, one for a felony charge of receiving a stolen vehicle and another misdemeanor charge of writing bad checks.

On Sunday, police identified Pitts as one of two victims whose bodies were discovered Saturday along Illinois Route 4 in rural Alhambra.

Pitts died from a single gunshot wound to the head, investigators said. His body was identified through fingerprints, and authorities have said they are familiar with Pitts from his frequent stays at the Madison County Jail.

The second victim died as a result of blunt head trauma, authorities said. His name still had not been released Monday, but investigators said they were close to being certain as to his identity. Neither victim was carrying identification when their bodies were found.

The bodies were in an advanced state of deomposition that indicated they probably had been dumped two to four weeks ago along Route 4, a two-lane highway. The bodies were at the bottom of a steep drop and not visible from the road.

A mushroom hunter discovered the bodies about 4 p.m. Saturday.

Lt. John Lakin of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department said Pitts had been reported as missing.

Sheriff’s deputies and detectives from the St. Louis Area Major Case Squad have been working around the clock on the case since the bodies were found.

Authorities still are asking anyone with information about the case to come forward. Deputies said they already have been directed to "associates" of Pitts.

Anyone who has information may call the Madison County Sheriff’s Department at (618) 692-4433, its anonymous tip line at 296-3000 or the detective bureau at 692-0871.

Court records show Pitts has listed addresses in the 600 block of Chestnut Street, Edwardsville; the 300 block of Main Street, Alton; the 1300 block of East Fourth Street, Alton; and the 900 block of East Schwarz Street, Edwardsville.

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