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Springfield EMTs accused in Earl Moore Jr. death won’t face trial until 2026

Springfield EMTs accused in Earl Moore Jr. death won’t face trial until 2026

Peter Cadigan and Peggy Finley appear in Sangamon County Circuit Court. Photo: Contributed/WAND-TV


Springfield, IL (WAND) – A large amount of discovery still needs to be handed over to the defense; that’s the reason a 2022 murder case won’t go to trial until May 2026.

Peter Cadigan and Peggy Finley were arrested in January 2023 for the murder of Moore Jr. The now-former Lifestar Ambulance EMTs are accused of strapping Moore face-down on a stretcher, resulting in his death.

An autopsy found his death was caused by compressional and positional asphyxia due to a face-down restraint. Springfield Police body-camera recordings captured the pair’s interactions with Moore Jr. in December 2022.

During Monday’s hearing, Finley and Cadigan’s attorneys said they are still waiting for a large amount of discovery from the prosecution. They told the court the delay is due to the sheer amount of data involved.

Both the prosecution and defense agreed to a potential May 11, 2026, trial date.

Cadigan and Finley have pleaded not guilty. Both are out of jail and are due back in court in early December for a motions hearing.

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