Carbondale man found guilty of first-degree murder

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – A Carbondale man was found guilty of first-degree murder on Thursday.

Terrance D. Ware, 44, of Carbondale, was found guilty of first-degree murder after a weeklong trial.

Jackson County State’s Attorney Joseph A. Cervantez presented evidence that on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, the Carbondale Police Department received a 911 call requesting an ambulance for a male, later identified as William Malachi Pittman, who had been involved in a physical fight with someone, later identified as Ware.

Carbondale Police officers responded to the scene and found Pittman lying unresponsive in the road.

Officers found injuries on Pittman’s chest and tried lifesaving efforts. Pittman was taken to the emergency room at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale by Jackson County Ambulance Service. A short time later, Pittman was declared dead.

The Carbondale police officers investigated and obtained an arrest warrant for Ware, who had left the scene and eluded police officers for multiple days. On November 4, 2023, Ware was arrested by Carbondale police and taken to the Jackson County Jail.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled to be heard in approximately 60 days.