Chicago, IL

DNA evidence on napkin leads to suspect in 1993 cold case murder of woman stabbed 65 times

Published

2 years ago

September 9, 2022

DNA evidence on napkin leads to suspect in 1993 cold case murder of woman stabbed 65 times

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A Minnesota man discovered responsible in a brutal cold-case homicide was sentenced Friday.

DNA proof led the jury to search out Jerry Westrom responsible within the 1993 homicide of Jeanie Childs in Minneapolis.

The jury foreperson broke down the three issues that made an enduring impression on jurors.

Inside the packing containers of proof introduced in court docket that the jury noticed included a serviette Westrom threw away at a hockey sport.

It’s also the primary look contained in the ugly crime scene of the Minneapolis house the place Westrom murdered Childs a long time in the past after stabbing her 65 instances.

“He would have needed to chase her across the house, stabbing her a number of instances over and over. He actually needed her to die,” mentioned jury foreperson Derek Fradenburgh.

Connecting Westrom to the homicide began with a success on a family tree web site, linking his DNA to DNA collected in 1993 on the crime scene.

“It is a story. It is fascinating,” Fradenburgh mentioned.

However investigators wanted extra, so that they tracked him to a hockey sport in Wisconsin. They then watched and waited for Westrom to throw this serviette away on this cardboard tray to gather his DNA.

“Listening to that testimony in court docket, it is extremely gripping stuff,” Fradenburgh added. “For that to be the factor that introduced him down, I assume, is basically unimaginable.”

Investigators used that match to arrest Westrom and to construct their case.

His DNA discovered on the comforter, a bloody lavatory towel, washcloth, a t-shirt and within the sink. Then there’s the bloody footprint.

“Even probably the most charitable studying was one of many footprints for certain had been his,” Fradenburgh mentioned.

Fradenburgh mentioned there is no approach to clarify away the footprint. It confirmed Westrom’s guilt for the jury.

“It isn’t a shoe impression or something like that. It is his naked footprint, and our toes have the identical ridges and whirls and every thing that our palms and fingers do,” Fradenburgh mentioned.

Prosecutors then performed Westrom’s 2019 interview with police. It is the one time jurors heard from Westrom whereas on trial, the place he denied he knew Childs and what occurred within the Minneapolis house.

“He is only a man who did not have an entire lot to say, however what he needed to say, I do know they had been lies,” Fradenburgh mentioned.

Fradenburgh mentioned these three issues are what made the jury’s determination: the police interview, DNA and the bloody footprint.

“He mentioned he wasn’t there. His DNA proves that he was there. It places him there. His footprint places him there on the time of the homicide,” Fradenburgh mentioned.

He mentioned he feels for Childs’ household, saying nobody deserves to die that approach.

“That is why it issues that it got here up 30 years later. It was so brutal. It is so graphic. You’ll be able to’t simply let this go,” Fradenburgh mentioned.

The jury reached its responsible verdict in two hours.

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

1 year ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

1 year ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

1 year ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.