Bushnell woman pleads not guilty to obstructing justice after allegedly helping get rid of gun that killed husband

MACOMB, Ill. — A Bushnell woman pled not guilty to a felony charge of obstructing justice in connection with the June 2 first-degree murder of her husband during an arraignment in McDonough County Circuit Court on Wednesday afternoon.

Patricia Purden, 37, of Bushnell appeared with her attorney, James Hoyle, before Associate Judge Nigel Graham for a preliminary hearing. Graham ruled there was probable cause for Purden’s charge, a Class 4 felony, and immediately ordered her to be arraigned.

Hoyle asked for a speedy trial by jury. Purden will be in court again Thursday for a bail reduction hearing and on June 27 for a pre-trial hearing. She remains in the McDonough County Jail on a $75,000 bond.

Illinois State Police investigators conducted a death investigation June 2 in the 600 block of Osbourne Street in Bushnell. During the investigation, Travis Purden, 43, was found dead in his residence with multiple gunshot wounds. After ISP officials reviewed surveillance camera footage and conducted interviews, Davin M. Purden, 18, Travis Purden’s son, and Nicholas C. Lafary, both of Bushnell, were identified as suspects. 

Assistant State’s Attorney Susan Maxwell called only one witness during the preliminary hearing — Timothy Becket, an investigator with the major crimes unit for the Illinois State Police.

Becket said during his investigation that Lafary and Davin Purden became suspects in Travis Purden’s death. Arrest warrants were issued, and both were taken into custody on June 5.

Becket said he interviewed Davin Purden after he was taken into custody at the McDonough County Sheriff’s Office. Also in attendance was Jordan Hawes, a detective with the Macomb Police Department and an inspector with the West Central Illinois Task Force.

“During your interview with Davin, did he admit to causing the death of Travis Purden by shooting him in the head?” Maxwell asked. Becket said he did.

Becket said that after the shooting, Davin Purden returned to the residence where he lived with his mother, Patricia Purden, and spoke with her. Davin Purden said he, his mother, a juvenile female and LaFary took the gun to the residence of Michael Lock’s parents outside Avon (approximately a 10-mile drive from Bushnell).

“(They) gave the gun to Michael Lock with the intention of him disposing it,” Becket testified.

Becket said Davin Purden told him he had told his mother he killed Travis Purden by shooting him. He said that conversation happened less than 24 hours after he shot his father.

“Do you know who contacted Michael Lock initially?” Maxwell asked.

“Initially, the person who contacted Michael Lock was Patricia Purden,” Becket said.

After interviewing Davin Purden, Becket said he interviewed Patricia Purden outside her residence in Bushnell. Also in attendance was Lance Ormond, a special agent with the Illinois State Police. Patricia Purden told the men she knew her husband was dead on June 2.

“She (said she) had asked David Purden if he killed Travis, to which he stated yes, he killed Travis by shooting,” Becket said.

Patricia Purden then told Becket that later the same day, she, Lafary, her son and a juvenile female rode in the juvenile’s car to Lafary’s residence. 

“(Lafary) went inside of his residence with a black backpack and retrieved the firearm. He came back out to the vehicle with a box of blue gloves,” Becket said. “Then they proceeded to travel to the residence of Michael Lock’s parents.”

Becket said Patricia Purden told him she got out of the vehicle to speak with Lock. She told him Davin had killed Travis, and she asked Lock if he could “take care of” the firearm. She then removed the firearm from the backpack and put it in Lock’s vehicle.

“And so Patricia Purden physically, according to her own admission, had the firearm in her hands?” Maxwell asked. Becket said she did.

Hoyle asked if there was any evidence that anybody had attempted to clean the gun.

“There were statements made about the blue gloves in the car that would be used to prevent fingerprints from being present on the firearm,” Becket said.

Becket also said the firearm was recovered.

Hoyle explained Patricia Purden’s actions by saying “a mother did what a mother should do” by taking the gun away from her son to avoid harming himself or others.

“They took it to a friend,” Hoyle said. “There was nothing said to destroy it or clean it or anything like that. They were instructing him to put it in a safe place. Take care of it.”

Graham disagreed. He said probable cause existed to show Patricia Purden could have been seen as “concealing” or attempting to conceal, according to the state statute.

Patricia Purden could face between one to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and fined up to $25,000 if found guilty.