JONI GUNTER

A judge on Tuesday sentenced convicted killer Russell Tillis to two life sentences plus 30 extra years.

Russell Tillis, the Jacksonville man convicted in the murder and dismemberment of 30-year-old Joni Gunter, will be sentenced June 1.

A jury of 12 men and women on Thursday recommended a sentence of life in prison for Russell Tillis, the man convicted in the murder and dismemberment of Joni Gunter.

The same jury that convicted Russell Tillis of first-degree murder, kidnapping and dismemberment in the death of Joni Gunter was back in the courtroom Wednesday as the sentencing phase began.

Defense attorneys for Russell Tillis have filed a last-minute motion to block the state from seeking the death penalty for their client when the penalty phase of his murder trial begins on Wednesday.

Before Joni Gunter was killed, she was struggling and homeless. Her family was trying to find her.

Russell Tillis on Friday was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Joni Gunter, whose dismembered remains were found buried in the yard of Tillis’ Southside home nearly five years ago.

Russell Tillis took the stand in his own defense on the second day of his trial in the murder of Joni Gunter, whose dismembered remains were found on his Southside property in 2016.

The long-delayed trial of Russell Tillis on charges that he killed and dismembered Joni Gunter and then buried her in the yard of his Southside Jacksonville home began with grim details of her death.

One of the first 10 jurors selected to serve in the murder trial of Russell Tillis was excused Tuesday after writing a letter to the judge.

Nearly five years after the remains of a 30-year-old woman were found in the backyard of his home, jury selection began Monday in the trial of Russell Tillis.

Attorney Donald Mairs (pictured left), attorney Chuck Fletcher (center) and Russell Tillis (right) appear in court Thursday morning. A judge appointed Donald Mairs as the 12th lawyer for Russell Tillis, who is accused in the murder of Joni Gunter, whose remains were found in his yard in 2016. John Rockwell, a former assistant state attorney who prosecuted Tillis in 2007 on a prostitution charge, was appointed as Tillis' 11th defense lawyer on April 1. Tillis filed a Nelson motion, saying he wanted Fletcher removed from the case. When Tillis appeared in court Thursday morning with Mairs, Borello denied Tillis' motion to have Fletcher removed.

John Rockwell, a former assistant state attorney who prosecuted Tillis in 2007 on a prostitution charge, was appointed as Tillis' 11th defense lawyer on April 1. Judge Mark Borello granted a motion Friday for Rockwell, who was the second chair, to withdraw in the case. Tillis filed a Nelson motion, saying he wanted Fletcher removed from the case. Prosecutors also interviewed Janis Eldridge, a private investigator who was subpoenaed and brought in for a sworn statement in the case. Eldridge stood before Borello on Friday morning under oath, saying she has been a private investigator for Tillis since 2015.