State fund helps pay for death penalty cases

The cost to prosecute and defend Maurice LaGrone and Amanda Hamm for the 2003 drownings in Clinton Lake of Hamm's three children came to about $1.75 million.

Of that amount, DeWitt County citizens paid just under $321,000. State taxpayers paid the other $1.43 million through the Illinois Capital Litigation Fund, money available to help pay for death penalty cases.

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