Midwest
Lane Bryant massacre: Criminal profiler says arrest could come in 2008 murder of 5 in women's clothing store
It was as cold-blooded as cold cases come.
On Feb. 2, 2008, a man posing as a delivery driver walked into a Lane Bryant clothing store in Tinley Park, a suburb of Chicago, with a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun. He forced six women he found inside into a back room, duct taped their hands behind their backs and fondled one of them, police said.
Eventually, he shot them all.
While the attacker may have believed he killed all of them, one survived, according to investigators. She was a part-time employee whose description of the suspect police hoped would lead to an arrest. Despite thousands of leads over the past 16 years, the killer remains at large.
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The victims, from left: Jennifer Bishop, 34, of South Bend, Ind.; Carrie Chiuso, 33, of Frankfort; Rhoda McFarland, 42, of Joliet; Sarah Szafranski, 22, of Oak Forest; Connie Woolfolk, 37, of Flossmoor. Background: Tinley Park Police Cmdr. Pat McCain makes a phone call in an office dedicated to the investigation. (Insets: FOX 32 Chicago, Background: Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
The killer is believed to be just over 6 feet tall, with a “husky” build and broad shoulders. He was described as a Black man between 25 and 35 years old at the time of the attack, with a medium dark skin tone and corn-rowed hair. He had one braid hanging down his right cheek, adorned with green beads. He was wearing black jeans with a rhinestone “G” embroidered over the back pockets, a dark gray cap and a dark jacket.
Grainy surveillance video taken from across the street shows a dark SUV and a dark sedan in the parking lot around the time of the murders, The Associated Press reported at the time. However, it was unclear whether either of the vehicles were used by the attacker.
Authorities also have the killer’s voice recorded in a garbled 911 call, and the Tinley Park Police Department is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
MASSACHUSETTS MAN ARRESTED IN 36-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE AFTER SPIT ON SIDEWALK LINKS HIM TO MURDER
LISTEN: Police release 911 audio that contains voice of man who killed 5 in women’s clothing store
“You’re lucky,” the gunman can be heard saying. “I’m losing it.”
The woman’s voice begging police to “hurry” belonged to the store manager, Rhoda McFarland, 42.
The lone survivor’s identity has not been publicized. Police identified the murder victims as McFarland, of Joliet; Jennifer Bishop, 34, of South Bend, Indiana; Sarah Szafranski, 22, of Oak Forest; Connie Woolfolk, 37, of Flossmoor; and Carrie Chiuso, 33, of Frankfort.
“There’s something that’s in that timeline that’s off and you, as the investigator, have to put the pieces of the puzzle together. It’s like a ladder without rungs. We have to fill in those spots.”
Police released a statement on her behalf days after the shooting.
“An unspeakable tragedy occurred, and five of the bravest women I have ever met were senselessly murdered and taken from their families,” she said. “My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to their families and friends.
“Please know that during the unfathomable events of that day, their thoughts were focused on you and coming home. My heart aches that they were unable to do so, and I am working with the authorities in any way possible for all of the victims.”
SERIAL KILLINGS PROSECUTOR REVEALS DETAILS OF UNIDENTIFIED VICTIM’S VIOLENT DEATH
Tinley Park Police Cmdr. Pat McCain in the “war room,” an office that houses all the collected evidence in the Lane Bryant case and full-time detectives working on leads Jan. 25, 2013. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Tinley Park Police did not respond to an interview request from Fox News Digital.
The cold case can be cracked with the help of new technology and tips from the public, according to John Kelly, a criminal profiler who has been working on the case through his organization, System to Apprehend Lethal Killers, or STALK Inc., and developed a potential profile.
“I believe he lives outside the area, in a bigger city,” Kelly told Fox News Digital. “He has some experience about delivering to businesses, thus entering the back door and showing the manager the paperwork, a ruse, for a delivery to get himself inside and look for cameras.
“I believe he was impulsive and desperate for money,” Kelly said. “Probably an addiction of some sort. Could be ganged up.”
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Tinley Park Police Department Sgt. T.J. Grady speaks during a news conference Feb. 4, 2008, about the murders at the Lane Bryant store in Tinley Park, Ill. A gunman killed five women at the store. (Kuni Takahashi/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Despite the planning, he wasn’t an experienced stickup artist, the profiler said.
“He was a novice at robbing stores – a major lack of sophistication shows,” he told Fox News Digital. “Why try to rob a store in broad daylight at approximately 10:30 in the morning with no mask?”
That early, cash from the prior day of sales was already deposited, and few new shoppers would have come in to spend.
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“The only cash is to make change and maybe pay out refunds for returns,” Kelly said. “Why rob a place that’s having a sale and there could be a lot of people there? Why kill five people, but he thought he killed six, for a little bit of money and jewelry?”
The sixth victim, who survived, gave police a suspect description that has now been developed into a 3D composite.
This undated image provided by the Tinley Park Police Department shows the suspect in a shooting that left five women dead at a Lane Bryant clothing store Feb. 2, 2008, in Tinley Park, Ill. (Tinley Park Police Department via AP)
Kelly said the attack on the Lane Bryant store may not have been the suspect’s first homicide and may not have been his last.
“He’s walking in without a mask, so he plans on killing going in,” he said. “[It’s] witness disposal. He thought he killed everyone who he believed could identify him. Probably changed the way he looked the next day.”
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Local police announced last year that they put two new detectives on the cold case, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said that’s the first step to cracking an unsolved mystery.
Mourners gather near the Lane Bryant store at the Brookside Market shopping mall Feb. 4, 2008, in Tinley Park, Ill. A gunman killed five women at the store. (Kuni Takahashi/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“Anything and everything is on the table at this point,” he said. “They’ve got to get back into their lives. Just because it looks like a robbery doesn’t mean it was a robbery. It could’ve been staged. It could’ve been something else. It could’ve been a love triangle. You’ve got to keep an open mind.”
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Tinley Park Police Department at 708-444-5394 or email lanebryant.tipline@tinleypark.org.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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This week’s Thursday was a relatively crowded slate, with eleven games on the docket compared to the handful we usually see on this day. Though there was not much drama in terms of close games coming down to the wire, there were bunches of runs scored and plenty to talk about. Let’s get into it.
Today’s Headlines
Mets’ Power Bats Propel Them Past Detroit
The New York Mets completed a much-needed three game series sweep over the Detroit Tigers at home on Thursday with a 9-4 win behind a strong pitching performance from Nolan McLean (7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 K, 6 H, 3 BB) and a power explosion that saw five home runs leave the park off of Met bats. The day started off in Detroit’s favor, with newcomer Gage Workman taking McLean deep in the top of the first inning for a three-run homer to put the visiting team ahead 3-0. Rookie A.J. Ewing answered in the bottom of the third inning with a homer of his own, the first of his career, to put the Mets’ first run of the day on the board. Momentum continued to swing in the Mets favor in the bottom of the fourth, when Brett Baty smacked a two-run homer that just barely cleared the fence, tying the game at 3-3. The Mets would go up for good in the fifth after Juan Soto singled in a run to put the team up 4-3, and Mark Vientos added a two-run homer of his own before the inning ended. Soto and Marcus Semien would tack on homers before this one was through, and Citi Field was left in good spirits heading into a weekend Subway Series against the Yankees. Detroit, on the other hand, has been in a bit of a free fall since Tarik Skubal hit the IL, and will look to right the ship with a home series against Toronto.
Phillies Win a Low-Scoring Affair in Fenway
Stop me if you’ve heard this one already this week — Kyle Schwarber hit a home run in yesterday’s game, his 7th over the last seven games. Schwarber’s league-leading 18th home run helped propel the Phillies to a 3-1 win over the Red Sox, despite 5.1 scoreless innings from their former friend Ranger Suarez, who pitched quite well for Boston in this one. Jesús Luzardo was able to match Suarez, though, keeping Boston off the scoreboard over 6 scoreless innings of his own. The 0-0 deadlock wasn’t broken until the top of the 8th inning, when Kyle Schwarber got a hold of a pitch off of Boston reliever Tyler Samaniego for a 417-ft. two-run blast that put the Phillies up for good.
Philadelphia will now travel to Pittsburgh to take on their in-state rivals, while Boston has the unenviable task of traveling to Atlanta for a three-game series.
White Sox Win Fifth Straight and Move Above .500
Don’t look now, but the Chicago White Sox are above .500 for the first time this season after completing a three-game series sweep over the Kansas City Royals, extending their overall winning streak to five games. Anthony Kay (6 IP, 2 ER, 4 K, 6 H, 2 BB) improved to 3-1 on the year with a fine pitching performance, and the young bats continued to stay hot with two knocks from 2B Chase Meidroth, who improved his season average to a highly respectable .281. Chicago also got some help from veteran Randal Grichuk in this one in the form of a two-run homer, and the South Siders suddenly have reason for optimism.
By The Numbers
0 Per Elias Sports Bureau, no player in New York Mets‘ franchise history had started their big league career by recording a triple and a home run as their first two hits, prior to A.J. Ewing accomplishing the feat this week.
3 Per Elias Sports Bureau, the sweep that the Mets just finished off against the Detroit Tigers was only the third time in Mets’ franchise history that the team completed a three-game series sweep despite trailing by multiple runs in each of the three games.
19 Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Emmett Sheehan induced 19 swing and misses in yesterday’s win over the San Francisco Giants, the most of any pitcher on the day.
442 Athletics 1B Nick Kurtz drilled the most impressive long ball of the day yesterday at a massive 442 feet.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Grandson of the Wind Whips Around the Bases
I always love an inside the park homer, and this season seems to be bringing more than usual so far, partly due to some questionable defensive plays in the outfield. It’s easy to criticize from the couch, but I think even Teoscar Hernández would admit that he should have played this ball a bit better especially considering that it’s in his own home park. Either way, enjoy watching San Francisco’s Jung-Hoo Lee (nicknamed ‘Grandson of the Wind’ due to being the son of KBO legend Lee Jong-beom, who was originally ‘Son of the Wind’) fly around the bases here on his inside the park homer during the Giant’s 5-2 loss to the Dodgers yesterday.
Will Smith…The Leadoff Hitter?
With Shohei Ohtani being given a rest on the day after another masterful pitching performance, Dodgers’ catcher Will Smith got his first career start in the leadoff role last night and he did not disappoint, taking Giants starter Landen Roupp deep in his very first at-bat.
What Can’t McGonigle Do?
As the Detroit Tigers‘ phenom rookie Kevin McGonigle continues to impress at the plate and on the base-paths, don’t forget about what the kid can do with the glove. He absolutely robbed the Mets’ Bo Bichette of a base hit yesterday with one of the more impressive catches you’ll see all year.
May the Force Be With You
With teams all around the league celebrating Star Wars lately, the Mets got in on the action on Thursday with a first pitch that involved Mr. Met dressed as The Mandalorian, throwing Grogu to Mrs. Met. And that was a sentence that I never anticipated typing this season.
Baseball Has a New No. 1 Prospect
With Pittsburgh’s Konnor Griffin (formerly No. 1) recently graduating from the prospect list, we now have a new No. 1 ranked prospect in the game. Congratulations to Milwaukee’s Jesús Made, a freakishly athletic shortstop who has all the tools to become the game’s next superstar.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Seattle Mariners placed C Cal Raleigh on the 10-day IL with a right oblique strain, which can typically linger longer than those minimum ten days.
⚾ Colorado Rockies placed RHP Jimmy Herget on the 15-day IL (right shoulder impingement) retroactive to May 13.
⚾ Lots of unknowns here still, but keep an eye on a developing story involving Los Angeles Dodgers‘ reliever Edwin Díaz, who has been linked to cockfighting events in Puerto Rico based on photos found on social media by USA Today investigative reporters.
Articles You Should Read
“George Kirby is Unrecognizable” — Nate Schwartz, Pitcher List
“You’re Probably Underrating Dylan Lee” — Ben Clemens, FanGraphs
“Buy, Sell, or Hold These Three Struggling Starters?” — Corbin Young, FanGraphs
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Starting Pitcher Roundup
Hitter Performances
Waiver Wire Picks
Starting Pitcher Streamers
MILWAUKEE — Five teenagers were arrested on Thursday following a police pursuit that started on the 5500 block of W. Silver Spring Drive at around 10 a.m.
The teenagers were seen by the Milwaukee Police Department in a wanted vehicle that was involved in an armed robbery, and attempted to stop the vehicle.
The driver refused to stop, starting the police pursuit.
TMJ4
The pursuit ended when the suspect exited the vehicle and started to run on foot on W. Appleton Place, according to MPD.
MPD then arrested a 16-year-old female, a 16-year-old male, two 17-year-old females, and a 15-year-old male.
Criminal charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
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