A Mount Vernon man who called police to report an unconscious, nonbreathing man inside his home has now admitted he was responsible for that man's death. Peter Harris was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing Patrick Williamson, ending a case that began with a call for help and quickly turned into a murder investigation.
Harris pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder in Jefferson County Circuit Court, according to the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Judge Jerry Crisel imposed the 20-year sentence, while prosecutors said the case stemmed from a robbery that ended in Williamson's death.
A Police Call Became A Murder Investigation
In March 2025, Mount Vernon police responded to Harris' home after receiving a report about an unconscious man who was not breathing. An autopsy later determined that Williamson, 56, died from blunt force trauma to the head the night before police were called, the Illinois Attorney General's Office said.
A pretrial record from the Illinois Appellate Court described investigators' account of changing statements from Harris and codefendant Laura Beneway. The record says Harris eventually told police that he, Beneway and Eddie Bennett had discussed robbing Williamson, and that Harris held Williamson's arms while Bennett beat him.
Two Other Defendants Have Already Faced The Courts
Beneway, 61, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received her own 20-year prison sentence on June 25, 2026. The Attorney General's Office prosecuted both her case and Harris' after the Jefferson County State's Attorney's Office referred the matters to the state agency.
Bennett, 69, was convicted of first-degree murder by a Jefferson County jury in June 2025. His next court date is August 25, according to WKRC.
Harris Will Serve Prison Time, Then Supervision
Harris will be placed on mandatory supervised release for two years after completing his prison sentence, according to the Illinois Attorney General's Office. The sentence closes the criminal case against the man whose call initially brought officers to the scene, while Bennett's case remains active.
