BLOOMINGTON - The dismissal of murder charges against Alan Beaman on Thursday does not mean prosecutors have called off their investigation into the 1993 death of Jennifer Lockmiller. | New video | Photo gallery | Beaman looking forward to the future

Beaman's lawyers were handed a one-page dismissal by Assistant State's Attorney Mark Messman minutes before walking into court for an 11:30 a.m. hearing to review the status of the case. The reason listed for the dismissal was "pending further investigation."

After the 10-minute hearing, Messman told The Pantagraph the dismissal should not be construed as a proclamation from the state that Beaman is innocent.

"That's not what we're saying," said Messman.

In a statement released after the hearing, McLean County State's Attorney Bill Yoder said: "The investigation into the death of Miss Lockmiller will continue in an effort to bring her killer to justice, and the public is reminded that there is no statute of limitations as to the crime of murder. All options for future prosecutions remain available."

Yoder was not in the courtroom for the hearing, which was handled by Messman and prosecutor Bill Workman.

Beaman was released on bond after the state Supreme Court reversed his murder conviction in a May decision that cited weak evidence against the former Illinois Wesleyan University student.

Normal Police Chief Kent Crutcher said the decision to dismiss the charges against Beaman does not change the nature or pace of the investigation.

"We will continue to investigate as we have done since the court's reversal," Crutcher said.

Crutcher said police and prosecutors developed a list of things to follow up in the case and officers continue to go work through that list.

The joy of the dismissal was tempered by the anger defense lawyers expressed over how the case was resolved.

'"It's not a nice way for it to end," said Karen Daniel, with the Bluhm Legal Clinic at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. Daniel, added that she believed Beaman and his family were owed an apology and an acknowledgement that an injustice had been done.

The defense lawyer said she hopes Beaman's case does not end with the dismissal.

"Alan Beaman is not the only person this has happened to. We need to examine this and figure out how to stop it from happening again," said Daniel.

Defense lawyer Jeff Urdangen was blunt in his criticism of prosecutors and police who handled the case.

Urdangen started with James Souk, a former prosecutor who is now a judge.

"James Souk disregarded his obligation as a prosecutor" by withholding evidence of a second suspect, said Urdangen, also of the Bluhm Legal Clinic.

Former State's Attorney Charles Reynard, also now a judge, supervised and approved of Souk's conduct, said Urdangen.

Finally, Urdangen criticized Yoder. "who could and should have listened" to the defense about dismissing the case.

Urdangen also disclosed that Beaman was offered a deal by prosecutors several months ago - dismissal in exchange for time served in prison.

"Alan broke the world's record for saying 'no,'" said Urdangen.

During the court hearing, Urdangen lashed out at Messman over the return of Beaman's $25,000 bond. His family had to post the bond in June so Beaman could be released from custody while prosecutors evaluated whether to retry him.

Urdangen asked that Judge Scott Drazewski to exercise his discretion and return the full bond. Usually the court system keeps 10 percent of any bond posted, even in an acquittal.

Judge Scott Drazewski told Urdangen that a motion should be filed in writing and set for a hearing, a process that gives the state a chance to respond.

Messman said he wanted to review the law on the matter.

"Read some law? Please," Urdangen responded sarcastically to Messman.

Drazewski suggested that the courtroom was not a place for theatrics and the hearing ended.

M.K. Guetersloh contributed to this report.