The decision on whether to have a crime lab take a new look at evidence in the Starved Rock murders case will wait until a new state’s attorney takes office. LaSalle County prosecutors Tuesday asked for a delay so they can have more time to respond to defense requests. Judge Michael C. Jansz postponed the hearing to December 14, by which time Todd Martin will be the State’s Attorney.
A defense lawyer believes a new crime lab analysis can show things that couldn’t be shown in 1960. Eighty-one year old Chester Weger was paroled earlier this year from what was supposed to be a life sentence for killing a woman in St. Louis canyon. Two other women’s murders were kept as backup cases at the time and were never taken to trial.