A judge has refused to reduce the $1 million bond for one of two men accused of killing a southwestern Illinois woman whose dismembered body was found along a river.

The (Alton) Telegraph reports Madison County Circuit Judge James Hackett on Tuesday rejected Brandon Chittum's request to lower his bond to $500,000.

A prosecutor argued the 31-year-old from Collinsville is accused of a brutal murder and may be affiliated with the Outlaws biker gang. Chittum's attorney countered that his client is an Army veteran who served two tours of duty in Iraq.

Chittum is charged along with 28-year-old Patrick Chase of Alton with first-degree murder in the death of 30-year-old Courtney Coats of Alton.

Her body was found in December along the Illinois River in Greene County.

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