Sarah Mellor, 30, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her husband

A Bloomington High School teacher pleaded not guilty Nov. 8 on charges of first degree murder in the stabbing death of her husband at a private Clinton campsite last month. A jury trial is set for Jan. 17 at 9 a.m.

Sarah Kelch Mellor, 30, has been in custody at the Woodford County Jail since Oct. 17 on $1 million bond, when she was arrested at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center where Mark Mellor, 31, was pronounced at 12:15 a.m.

McClean County Coroner Dr. Kathy Davis determined Mellor’s death was due to a stab wound to the chest. Woodford County State’s Attorney Greg Minger has since confirmed the weapon used was a hunting knife.

Mellor appeared in court Tuesday morning, shackled at the wrists and ankles, where she quietly conferred with Bloomington defense attorneys Steve Skelton and Stephanie Wong during her arraignment in the Woodford County Courtroom of Judge Michael Stroh.

Stroh set a hearing date for 3 p.m. Nov. 29 for a motion filed by defense attorneys to reduce Mellor’s bond. Additionally, Stroh granted a petition from the media to allow extended media coverage of the case, despite an objection by Wong.

Wong argued the courtroom may be too small to accommodate cameras and audio equipment, and said pre-trial media coverage could create negative publicity.

“The court does not believe this is any different than a newspaper article or any other type of media,” Stroh said. “This courtroom is large, I’m guessing 20 feet wide by 30 feet wide.”

Stroh also noted that a media gallery may be accommodated without risk to the anonymity of the jurors, which was also Wong’s concern.

Bloomington High School Spanish teacher Sarah Mellor with her husband Mark Mellor in April of this year. The Mellor’s were married Nov. 7, 2013. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Mellor’s Facebook)

Mellor was met with a small contingency of supporters, casting a slight smile toward them as she was ushered out of the courtroom. Female inmates of the Woodford County Correctional Facility are allowed visitor on Thursdays and Sundays for one hour each day.

Mark Mellor’s aunt, Donna Andrew, cousin Sierra Riden her husband and best friend of Mellor, Daniel Riden sat separately from Mellor’s group, and were visibly saddened.

Despite Mellor’s three-week absence from her Spanish teaching job at Bloomington High School, Bloomington School District 87 superintendent, Dr. Barry Reilly said the school district has no intentions at this time of terminating Mellor’s employment. A substitute teacher continues to govern those classes.

— Bloomington teacher enters not guilty plea in husband’s murder —