KNOX COUNTY, Ill. — The family of fallen Knox County Deputy Nicholas Weist received an early Christmas gift this year after finding out the rest of their mortgage was paid off.
Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a national organization that pays off mortgages for families of fallen first responders and those who served. This year, the non-profit is set to deliver 40 mortgage-free homes by Christmas Eve, bringing the grand total for the year to over 200 homes.
On Dec. 18, Tunnels to Towers announced the Weist family would be one of the recipients of its program.
Back on April 29, 2022, Weist was setting up spike strips at the intersection of U.S. Highway 150 and 150th Avenue in Henry County when a suspect's car struck and killed him.
The man accused of hitting Weist, Daylon Richardson, now 24, faces several charges related to the incident, including two counts of murder, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated fleeing and eluding. His jury trial was originally set to start in January but has been pushed to Feb. 5, according to court documents.
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