Here are five things to know about how the story unfolded:
1. The 14-year-old boy, Donovan Nicholas, has been charged with murder and aggravated murder in the death of 40-year-old Heidi Fay Taylor, his father's girlfriend, according to the Champaign County Sheriff's Office.
2. Nicholas, an eighth grader at Graham Middle School, told dispatchers a separate personality within him forced him to commit the murder. During the 9-1-1 call, Nicholas said his alternate personality, "Jeff," stabbed Taylor and then shot her in the head, according to the recording obtained by the Springfield News-Sun.
3. The dispatcher asked the 14-year-old why Jeff killed Taylor.
“She always did drugs, and she totally ignored me,” Nicholas said. “Like once she hit me and she was just — she was done.”
» MORE INFO: Prosecutor alleges Champaign County 8th grader planned murder
4. Champaign County Prosecutor Kevin Talebi argued Nicholas planned the murder and intended to run away after the fact. However, the suspect's attorney, Darrell Heckman, said in court the boy should be released to his father and put on house arrest because he has mental health issues and has never been involved with the courts before.
5. Champaign County Juvenile Court Judge Lori Reisinger decided Nicholas will remain in a juvenile detention center. Nicholas will appear in court again on April 19.
» EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: Download our apps for real-time alerts on the news you care about
About the Author