Carroll Charged With First Degree Murder In Disappearance Of Bonnie Woodward
ALTON - It's been almost eight years since Bonnie Woodward disappeared and local law enforcement announced today that the alleged killer is in custody. Jersey County resident, Roger W. Carroll was officially charged today in the death of the missing stepmother of a juvenile girl that returned home on her 18th birthday, just days after Woodward went missing on June 25, 2010.
Carroll was originally charged in 2010 by Madison County prosecutors with felony obstruction of justice for allegedly lying to police about the teen's whereabouts as well as a misdemeanor charge of harboring the teenager as a runaway. Those charges have been pending in the Madison County court system for nearly eight years.
In late September of 2010, Alton Police Chief David Hayes said that the police had physical evidence that was eventually disclosed as Carroll's fingerprints found on Woodward's vehicle. The fingerprints enabled authorities to get a warrant to search Carroll's rural Jersey County Property. The property was searched with the assistance of cadaver dogs, but no remains were found. The reason, though speculative, is that no corpse existed as it had been burned and buried.
Carroll's wife filed for divorce in January of this year. In March, she alleged Carroll had used a stun gun on her head and neck to subdue her, had drug her by her hair and locked her in a laundry room. Jersey County authorities then charged Carroll with unlawful restraint and domestic battery. Although Carroll had posted bond for this incident, Madison County authorities revoked his bail for the earlier pending charges dating to 2010. Carroll is currently in the Madison County Jail and at the time of the press conference had not been informed of the first degree murder charges that had been filed by the Jersey County authorities earlier in the day.
Alton Police Chief Simmons gave thanks to the outstanding cooperation between all of the agencies involved that worked together to solve and case and said, "This is a prime example of the fact that any piece of information that is brought forward can help solve a case, bring closure to a family and be used to bring evildoers in jail."
He went on to say, "Days ago I visited I visited the crime scene in rural Jersey County. A place very hard to find. Very secluded and witnessed State Police officers, Alton Police Officers and detectives, Jersey and Madison County investigators, the Jersey County Sheriff and the Madison County state's attorney's and Tom Gibbons sifting through mud and dirt. All cold and muddy, some were wet, to methodically work together on this investigation to seek justice."
Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons told the assembled media, "It is truly impossible for any of us to fully understand the pain, grief and loss that have been suffered by the loved ones of Bonnie Woodward since she disappeared in 2010." He went on to say, "I am pleased to announce today that the disappearance of Bonnie Woodward has been solved. But, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that her disappearance led to her death. Working hand in hand with the Jersey County State's Attorney Ben Goetten, charges of first degree murder, concealment of a homicidal death and aggravated kidnapping have been filed against Roger W. Carroll of Jerseyville."
The criminal information filed by Jersey County alleges that on June 25, 2010, Carroll lured Bonnie Woodward from Madison County to a location in Jersey County where he shot her multiple times with a 9mm handgun and then concealed her death by burning her body. Carroll is now awaiting trial with no bail based on the newest charges.
While Gibbons would not officially state the location of the remains, he did say that some members of the media were aware of the location. The location, as best can be described, is approximately 7.5 miles from Jerseyville and four miles from Brighton in a heavily wooded, hilly location. Authorities were still on the site Thursday.
Gibbons would also not be specific regarding the information that led authorities to dig in the specific location and said that it would be something that could be used if the case goes to trial.
More details and press conference video to follow.
