Palmyra man wanted on first-degree murder charges arrested in Petersburg, Ill.

PETERSBURG, Ill. — A Palmyra, Mo., man was arrested Saturday afternoon in Petersburg about 24 hours after he allegedly murdered a woman.

Raymond D. Gum Jr., 34, was arrested at 12:23 p.m. in the 300 block of E. Liberty in Petersburg, about 25 miles northwest of Springfield, Ill. Gum was armed, and Ben Hollis, chief deputy with the Menard County Sheriff’s Department, said gun-related charges are being processed by the Menard County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Gum, who once lived in Petersburg, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 34-year-old female who lived in the 100 block of E. Jefferson in Palmyra, Mo. He also has been charged with armed criminal action.

Gum’s vehicle was found in a remote location Petersburg Friday night. The Menard County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Gum was in Menard County on Friday morning and stayed there until his arrest. The Palmyra Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Departments responded to the crime scene in Palmyra at about 11 a.m. Friday.

The bond on Gum has been set at $1 million cash only. He is in custody in Menard County and is awaiting extradition to Missouri. An extradition hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Menard County Circuit Court in front of Judge Michael Atterberry. 

The U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Petersburg Police Department, Athens Police Department, Palmyra Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Department and the Division of Drug and Crime Control were involved in the investigation and apprehension of Gum.

Gum has been found guilty of residential burglary twice in Menard County — in 2009 and in 2012. He received an 8-year prison term in 2009, but his prison stay was reduced after completing the Illinois Department of Correction’s impact incarceration program. Gum received a 10-year prison term in 2012. He also was sentenced to 180 days and 30 months probation for burglary and theft control of more than $300 and less than $10,000 in 2005.