Man who allegedly strangled woman to death pleads not guilty

BLOOMINGTON (25News Now) - A man accused of strangling a woman to death has pled not guilty to nine counts in a first-degree murder case.

According to McLean County court records, Joshua Livingston, 41, of Danvers, appeared in person with counsel during an arraignment Friday morning. He’s charged in the strangulation death of Melissa Sue Ostrom, 39, of Bloomington. Charges include two counts of murder with intent to kill, one count of murder with strong probability to kill, and one count of concealing homicidal death, among others.

Ostrom was reported missing April 17, with her body discovered three days later. Police and prosecutors are yet to provide information on where and how she was found.

Court documents detail a pending domestic battery case against Livingston in which he is accused of grabbing and throwing Ostrom to the ground on March 12. Prosecutors said in the court filing that Ostrom was a “family or household member.”

Danvers will return to court for a status hearing May 24.