The man charged in connection with the death of Carrie Olson, of Davenport, made his first appearance in Rock Island County Court.
Tim McVay, 39, was arrested Friday, July 18, 2014, at a home he was helping to remodel in Silvis, Illinois.
McVay wore jail-issued clothes, he was handcuffed and his ankles were in shackles, when he appeared before Judge Michael Meersman in Rock Island County Court on Saturday morning, July 19, 2014.
The hearing lasted approximately three minutes.
Carrie Olson's parents, and several supporters, were at the hearing.
The charges against McVay were read in court: The Class M felony of first-degree murder that allegedly occurred in Rock Island County on December 29, 2013, and the Class 3 felony of concealment of a homicidal death.
Meersman told McVay he faces a minimum of 20 actual years, and a maximum of life, in prison if he is convicted on the murder charge. The second charge is punishable by a term of two to five years in prison.
McVay confirmed to Judge Meersman that he had not retained an attorney, and Meersman appointed Baron Heinz as McVay's public defender.
McVay remained handcuffed as he signed a form acknowledging he had been read the charges and that he had been given a preliminary hearing date.
McVay's preliminary hearing was set for Tuesday, July 29 at 8:30 a.m.
That is when McVay could enter a plea, and it is when the court will set a trial date, pretrial date and possible plea date according to Rock Island County State's Attorney John McGehee. He said those dates were likely to be set to happen within about six weeks.
McGehee said a request for a change of venue, because of the local publicity surrounding the case, was a possibility and that request would be up to the public defender.
He said the Olson family wanted to remain private as the court process moves forward.
"They are really good people and they are, of course, very distraught over this process," McGehee said. "They are trying to find answers."
McVay remained held in the Rock Island County Jail in lieu of $1.5-million bond.