Gary D. Lee was told Monday during his first court appearance that he may face the death penalty if convicted of murder charges in the stabbing death of Ellen Drake, said a spokeswoman for the Jackson County State’s Attorneys Office.

Drake, a Unity Point Elementary School teacher and SIUC alumna, was found dead in her Carbondale home Jan. 18 by a relative.

Police arrived at the home at about 3 a.m. that morning after receiving a 911 call from an undisclosed caller. Police determined that Drake’s death was a possible homicide based on the severity of the wounds inflicted to her body.

Advertisement

A call traced to a cellular phone taken from Drake’s house helped lead police to Lee, who was driving Drake’s 1998 Toyota Camry at the time of his arrest Jan. 18 in Memphis, Tenn.

Lee, 30, of Carbondale is charged with five counts of first-degree murder, one count of robbery, one count of residential burglary and one count of theft over $10,000.

Public Defender Patricia Gross was assigned to represent Lee.

Lee remains in Jackson County Jail, and his bond was continued at $1 million. Lee’s preliminary trial is set for Feb. 11.