EDWARDSVILLE – An 18-year-old from St. Louis was charged last week by SIUE Police after allegedly forcing entry to an occupied vehicle and stealing a backpack with items from one of the occupants.
Mario A. Thurman, 18, of St. Louis, was charged on Oct. 8, 2026 with a Class 1 felony count of vehicular invasion and a Class 2 felony count of robbery.
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The SIUE Police Department presented the case to Madison County prosecutors.
Two days prior on Oct. 6, Thurman allegedly entered an occupied vehicle by force with the intent to commit a theft or felony. He is also accused of stealing a backpack containing assorted personal items from another individual by the use of force on the same date.
A petition to deny Thurman’s pretrial release from custody in this case was filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. According to the petition, the victim and witness reported seeing Thurman and another unknown assailant approach the witness’s vehicle and batter the victim before stealing the victim’s backpack from the vehicle.
The petition states the backpack contained identification, U.S. currency and other personal items belonging to the victim, who knew Thurman and was able to direct the officer to Thurman’s residence.
“Officers contacted defendant who admitted to the altercation, claiming that victim tried to sell him cannabis, which resulted in a disagreement,” the petition states. “Defendant admitted to striking victim, then taking his bookbag.”
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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