The Belleville News-Democrat reported Brittany D. Howard was sentenced to 35 years after pleading guilty in Kenneth Whitehorn's killing.

Thirty-five years, to be served in full, is the term both the Belleville News-Democrat and First Alert 4 reported after the guilty plea. That plea is the conviction on Howard's first-degree murder count. DeWayne Franklin and Michael E. McCollum have not been tried on the counts those pages describe. Awaiting trial, in the body, and awaiting sentencing, in the subhead, are not the same place in a case.

The Belleville News-Democrat reported November 3, 2026, at 12:12 p.m., with no zone printed on that line, that a St. Louis woman was sentenced Tuesday to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the 2025 shooting death of a man in Granite City, and that the Madison County State's Attorney's Office said so. It reported Brittany D. Howard, 39, must serve the full sentence, and that she admitted killing Kenneth Whitehorn, 58, also of St. Louis. It reported his body was found April 24, 2025, near Alton Street and Pontoon Road, at the end of a tree line, and that he had been shot in the head. It reported the investigation found that drugs and money were connected to the shooting, and that Howard and Whitehorn knew each other. First Alert 4, by First Alert 4 Staff, published November 3, 2026, at 1:10 p.m. CST, reported Howard, 39, was sentenced to 35 years on Tuesday after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the death of 58-year-old Kenneth Whitehorn in April 2025. The headline on that page says 35 years. The address of the page still contains the words 25-years. Thirty-five, in the headline and the story, and 25, in the address, are not the same term. It reported that according to court records he was found dead on April 24, 2025, shot in the head, and his body was left near Alton Street and Pontoon Road in Granite City. Left near, on First Alert 4, and at the end of a tree line, on the Belleville News-Democrat, are not the same description of the place. It reported records show they knew each other, with the motive related to drugs and money. EdGlenToday, by Dan Brannan, published November 3, 2026, at 12:11 p.m., with no zone printed on that line, reported she pleaded guilty in the death of an acquaintance. An acquaintance, on that page, and knew each other, on the other two, are not the same word. EdGlenToday reported the body was found at the end of a tree line near Alton Street and Pontoon Road, and that she must serve her entire sentence. First Alert 4 reported she is required to serve her full sentence. Must serve the full sentence, required to serve her full sentence, and must serve her entire sentence are three ways of printing one requirement.

The Belleville News-Democrat reported Circuit Judge Amy Maher presided over Howard's plea hearing, and that Assistant State's Attorneys Mike Stewart and Luke Yager prosecuted the case. EdGlenToday reported Judge Amy Maher presided at the plea hearing. First Alert 4 named Mike Stewart and Luke Yager and did not print the judge's name. First Alert 4 quoted Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine: "We hope this conviction and sentence bring some healing and justice to what was a terrible crime in our community. Our office will always follow the evidence, apply the law and ensure accountability for such heinous acts. We are glad Brittany Howard has now admitted guilt and will serve a substantial prison sentence for her crime." Admitted killing, on the Belleville News-Democrat, and admitted guilt, in that quotation, are not the same verb. The Belleville News-Democrat's story fetched here does not print Haine's name or that quotation. The Belleville News-Democrat reported the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis and Granite City police led the investigation, with assistance from Pontoon Beach police and St. Louis police. First Alert 4 reported the same lead agencies and named the assisting agencies as the Pontoon Beach Police Department and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. St. Louis police, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, are not the same printed name.

The Belleville News-Democrat reported two co-defendants are awaiting trial. It reported DeWayne Franklin, 43, of St. Louis, is charged with first-degree murder under a theory of accountability, as well as weapons offenses, and that he remains in the Madison County Jail. It reported Michael E. McCollum, 76, of Florissant, Missouri, is charged with two counts of obstructing justice and one weapons count, that prosecutors allege he gave police false information and washed and vacuumed a vehicle, and that he was released under the SAFE-T Act. First Alert 4's subhead says two co-defendants currently await sentencing. The story under that subhead says they are still awaiting trial. Awaiting sentencing, and awaiting trial, are not the same posture. First Alert 4 reported Franklin is charged with first-degree murder, possession of a weapon by a felon, and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons, and that he is charged with murder under the law of accountability. A theory of accountability, on the Belleville News-Democrat, and the law of accountability, on First Alert 4, are not the same phrase. Weapons offenses, on the Belleville News-Democrat, and the two named weapons counts, on First Alert 4, are not the same list. First Alert 4 reported McCollum is charged with two counts of obstructing justice and one count of aggravated unlawful possession of weapons, that he allegedly provided false information to police, washed and vacuumed a vehicle, and possessed a handgun, and that he was released under the provisions of the SAFE-T Act. One weapons count, and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons, are not the same count line. A handgun is First Alert 4's word. The Belleville News-Democrat does not print it. EdGlenToday reported the same two men are awaiting trial, with Franklin charged under the law of accountability, with possession of a weapon by a felon, and with aggravated unlawful possession of weapons, and with McCollum charged with two counts of obstructing justice and one count of aggravated unlawful possession of weapons after allegedly providing false information, washing and vacuuming a vehicle, and possessing a handgun. The guilty plea and the 35-year term are the judgment on Howard's count. Franklin and McCollum have not been convicted of the counts these pages describe. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.