Barnstead Pleads Guilty to Murder in Beating Death

A Quincy man pleaded guilty Friday to beating a man to death in his apartment last November.

As part of a plea agreement, 31 year old Edwin Barnstead, Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of first degree murder in the death of Patrick Forbes, who died almost a month after the beating.

In exchange for the guilty plea, Barnstead agrees to serve 26-and-a-half years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Barnstead also pleaded guilty to home invasion in connection with an incident that occurred in the same building eleven days after the first incident.

Law enforcement officials say Barnstead was looking for drugs when he entered Forbes’ apartment at 1340 North Fifth last November 16th.

Barnstead’s official sentencing will be September 6th. He remains lodged in the Adams County Jail.