A Danville man, Kevin Marshall, 35, has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on four federal charges. The sentencing took place on September 8, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce in Peoria. The charges include carjacking and murder of Daniel Walter in April 2020, drug trafficking, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking. Marshall also received an additional ten-year sentence for possessing a firearm as a felon.
Evidence presented at trial showed that after his release from custody in January 2020, Marshall used a Taurus handgun to kill Walter at a rural residence in Danville. According to court documents, Marshall lured Walter out of his truck early in the morning and shot him multiple times at close range. After initially leaving the scene with Walter’s truck, he returned and shot Walter again before taking his phone and wallet. Investigators linked the Taurus handgun seized during Marshall’s arrest to both Walter’s murder and other shootings that occurred earlier in 2020.
Marshall spent several months selling methamphetamine before being arrested on August 18, 2020. A federal grand jury indicted him for possessing a firearm as a felon in August 2021. Additional charges related to carjacking, murder, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses were added through a superseding indictment in April 2023. His trial took place from July 31 through August 7, 2024.
During the proceedings, evidence was introduced showing that Marshall attempted to tamper with witnesses by instructing others to delete social media records and coercing witnesses into drafting false statements accepting responsibility for his actions. Despite these efforts at obstruction, the jury found him guilty on all counts.
Marshall had previously been convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of Latifah Cross in Danville in May 2013. In issuing four life sentences—one for each conviction—Judge Bruce cited both murders and noted Marshall’s involvement in other violent acts and witness tampering as well as his lack of remorse.
“The defendant’s violent murder of Daniel Walter, along with his armed distribution of dangerous drugs in our community, show a chilling disregard for human life,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “Our office is dedicated to pursing justice for victims of violence and to protecting our communities from those, like the defendant, who seek to sow harm. We are grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their invaluable work on this case.”
Danville Chief of Police Christopher S. Yates stated: “I appreciate the commitment, diligent work, and collaboration of Danville Police officers and detectives, the Illinois State Police, federal agencies, Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in bringing closure to this case and holding the convicted, Kevin Marshall, accountable for his actions… Though the conviction and sentencing of Kevin Marshall does not erase the damage, pain, and suffering he caused, hopefully this can contribute further to the healing process for family and friends of Daniel Walter as well as our community.”
Special Agent in Charge Christopher J.S. Johnson of the FBI Springfield Field Office said: “This sentence holds Kevin Marshall accountable for his unforgivable crimes and the trail of violence and loss he left behind… We hope it brings a measure of justice.”
The investigation involved several agencies including local police departments; state police; federal agencies such as the FBI Springfield Field Office; U.S Marshals Service; Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives; Assistant U.S Attorneys Bryan Freres & Eugene Miller prosecuted alongside Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy.
