BELLEVILLE - Detectives investigating a death near a busy Belleville roadway have led to felony charges against a local man.
Joe Davis, 60, of Belleville, was charged March 19, 2026, in connection with the March 18, 2026, death of Shawn Overmiller in the area of Illinois Route 161 and Sullivan Drive, according to the Belleville Police Department. The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office issued the charges after detectives presented information and evidence was reviewed.
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Davis faces two Class 4 felony counts: abuse of a corpse and concealment of a death.
In outlining the abuse of a corpse charge, police said Davis “intentionally removed or carried away the body of Shawn Overmiller and was not authorized by law to do so.”
On the concealment of a death charge, police said Davis “knowingly moved the deceased body of Shawn Overmiller from the place of death, with the intent of concealing information regarding the place or manner of death of Shawn Overmiller.”
Davis is being held at the St. Clair County Jail pending further court proceedings, police said.
Davis is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
