MOLINE, Ill. — A Moline homicide suspect pleaded not guilty in a Rock Island County court Tuesday, Feb. 20 during a preliminary hearing, records show.
Back on Feb. 7, police found a woman's body inside a parked car outside an apartment building at the 3600 block of 25th Street in Moline. The woman was later identified as 43-year-old Victoria Tillotson of Moline. The autopsy found she died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
The suspect, 35-year-old David J. McAdams of Rock Island, faces multiple charges in the incident including first-degree murder, unlawful use of weapons by a felon, and concealment of a homicidal death. Police say Tillotson and McAdams were dating.
Moline Detective Sean Hoover testified during a Feb. 20 preliminary hearing and said McAdams came into the police department the day Tillotson's body was found and said he accidentally shot her five days prior on Feb. 2.
According to the detective's testimony, McAdams claims the two were sitting in the car when he reached under the driver's seat to retrieve a gun and bumped his hand, causing the gun to go off. McAdams claims he then dropped the gun, allegedly causing it to go off again. McAdams told police he makes money through selling cannabis and uses the gun for protection.
Hoover said McAdams was asked three times what happened, adding there were inconsistencies each time. In addition, Tillotson's autopsy revealed the gunshot wound was close contact, which officials say is inconsistent with McAdams' report.
McAdams told police he was scared to call 911 and didn't know what to do. According to Hoover's testimony, McAdams' said he covered Tillotson's body with a blanket and garbage bag and reclined the car seat so she couldn't be easily seen, adding that her body remained in the parked car outside the apartment building until it was found. Hoover also said police found Tillotson's phone on top of a pile of bloody clothes and her work ID in McAdams' apartment.
Those who knew Tillotson have set up a GoFundMe for her family and friends, which can be found here.
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