An Illinois judge has tossed the confession of an East Peoria man accused of setting fire to a Peoria Heights house, ruling it was coerced by police who threatened him with charges of attempted murder.
Monday’s ruling by Peoria County Circuit Judge Michael Brandt means prosecutors are left without Brady Davis’ statement that he set the March 8 fire of a Peoria Heights house with at least two people inside. The 21-year-old Davis is charged with aggravated arson, residential arson, arson and criminal damage to property.
Two people who lived in the house say they awoke smelling smoke. They discovered a pile of boxes on fire in the basement and quickly threw them outside.
During a two-day hearing last week, defense attorney Gerald Brady got a Peoria Heights detective to admit he threatened Davis with attempted murder if he didn’t confess.
Jennifer Hayes says: 
Ray says: 
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