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State's attorney: Preliminary evidence points to self-defense in Centralia death

By Tara Fasol, the southern

Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:26 PM CST

CENTRALIA - Marion County State's Attorney Matthew Wilzbach was limited on what he would say Wednesday afternoon, but he shed some light on the ongoing investigation into the death of a Murphysboro man.

The body of Dale W. Reiman, 57, was discovered Saturday at his sister's residence in Centralia. Wilzbach was unable to comment on the details surrounding Reiman's death as the investigation continues but did confirm John Paul Farkas, 24, of Jackson County is a "person of interest" in the death.

"I would hesitate to say suspect," Wilzbach said. "A person with information, definitely."

The state's attorney said he believed Farkas had come to know Reiman through his employment.

"It is our understanding that Mr. Farkas was employed or is employed at the Gold's Gym," he said. "It is our understanding that he had met or come to know Mr. Reiman in that capacity."

Just how Farkas is connected to Reiman's death is not being released. The state's attorney said Farkas has not been charged with any crimes.

"As of yet, no, but that's still part of the ongoing investigation," he said. "It is safe to confirm that evidence presented suggests a self-defense situation."

Wilzbach said a search warrant was executed on the Reiman residence and interviews are being conducted.

"We are in the interview process so we are interviewing various individuals that knew either party to get a better feel for the background," he said. "We are awaiting the official report from the autopsy."

Wilzbach said forensic evidence was collected from the scene, but results of tests have not been released.

"I can confirm there was a gun located on the premises," he said.

Wilzbach could not confirm if Reiman's death was in any way connected to a lengthy criminal history but noted that is one avenue under investigation.

According to Southern Illinoisan archives, Reiman's criminal history includes a 1988 guilty plea to aggravated criminal sexual abuse with a weapon and unlawful restraint in Jackson County, as well as solicitation to commit kidnapping in Johnson County.

According to a story in The Southern, Reiman, a former assistant director of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's physical plant, was "accused of kidnapping a 19-year-old student in December 1986, taking him to Reiman's home, chaining him to a bed, threatening him with a knife and sexually assaulting him."

A similar incident allegedly occurred in 2002, according to a story printed in The Southern. In that case, Reiman and another man were each charged with Class D felony false imprisonment and false impersonation of a law enforcement officer.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said at the time that Reiman was arrested in connection with false imprisonment of a male graduate teaching assistant at Washington University.

Reiman had a CPA consulting and tax service business in Murphysboro. He was also secretary and treasurer for the Oraville Water District.

According to the Independent Accountants Association of Illinois' Web site, Reiman served as that group's president from 2003 to 2004.

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com / 351-5824@thesouthern.com / 351-5824