Guilty verdict handed down in Stivers murder case

TAYLORVILLE (Heartland Newsfeed) -- After a trial that dragged on for nearly three weeks, a Christian County jury has handed down a guilty verdict for a Pana man charged with the first-degree murder and aggravated battery of an infant.

Robert A. Stivers was handed down a guilty verdict on both charges Monday evening after a jury deliberation of five-and-a-half hours by the nine woman, three man grand jury. Stivers was charged in the incident involving the death of his four-month-old son Carter Livingston.

The Christian County Probation Department is preparing a pre-sentencing investigation report, leading up to Stivers' sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for March 8 at 1:15 p.m., where he is likely to be given a life sentence in prison. Stivers will be held without bond until after the sentencing hearing.

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