CLINTON COUNTY — The defense for a 26-year-old New Baden man accused of shooting his girlfriend to death last year informed the Clinton County Court Wednesday that they intend to request a fitness evaluation of their client.

Defendant Emmet Metzger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder for allegedly shooting to death his 24-year-old girlfriend Alexis Maki in New Baden.

After first calling 9-1-1, Metzger reportedly walked across the street to the New Baden Police Department and turned himself in.

Maki was reportedly a radiology student at Kaskaskia College and worked as a bartender in Lebanon, Illinois.

Metzger has remained in the Clinton County Jail since his arrest in November. On Wednesday the court found his continued detention is necessary for public safety reasons.

If convicted, he could spend between 20 to 60 years in prison with the possibility of a life sentence. He’s due back in court June 12 for a pretrial hearing in the case.