BLOOMINGTON - Three pending murder cases this year have the McLean County public defender's office asking to be removed from representation of Joshua McGuire.

McGuire, 22, of Normal, is accused in the Nov. 15 stabbing death of Joshua Embry following a fight in the 500 block of North Center Street. A public defender was named to represent McGuire.

In her motion asking that her office be allowed to withdraw from McGuire's case, McLean County Public Defender Amy Davis said her office "does not have the manpower available to represent effectively the defendant at this time."

Davis asked that private counsel be named to McGuire's case.

Attorneys in Davis' office currently are assisting George Autman, a Bloomington man accused of murder in the death of his 15-month old son, and Dennis McMillian, accused of murder in the stabbing death of Angel Neal.

Jason Marksteiner of LeRoy also is represented by Davis' office on charges that he sexually assaulted and murdered Jodi McGrew. He also is accused of the intentional homicide of an unborn child.

Davis noted in her motion that the public defender is required to assign two attorneys certified in capital litigation to work on each case where the death penalty is a possibility. The McLean County state's attorney's office has not announced a decision on whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty in McGuire's case.

McGuire is scheduled for a Dec. 19 arraignment. He remains jailed in lieu of posting $100,000 bond.

Embry's death marked the sixth Twin City homicide this year.