Before I get into the actual case discussion, I want to state that the information contained in these case overview posts is the result of the efforts of many people. There have been 3 major crime discussion boards that have had large scale discussions on the Valerie Percy murder. Many fine people have contributed to the information in this and the following posts.
A general warning: The great majority of information we have on the case comes from newspaper articles of the time, very little from LE itself or people involved in the case, like Jbean. Sometimes the info is incorrect or outdated, especially from the early stages of the investigation. I'll try to not include, or address such info as it comes up.
A Rough Timeline of Events That Night
This covers the evening of Sept. 17 to the morning of Sept. 18, 1966. All times are APPROXIMATE unless otherwise noted. The murder took place during the time of Charles Percy's campaign for Senator. The scene was the Percy home, called Windward, in Kenilworth Ill., between Winnetka and Wilmette.
10:00 pm Valerie and her step-mother, Loraine, finish having dinner with 2 young campaign workers, James Mann and Tully Friedman. Valerie goes up to her room.
11:30 pm Valerie's sister, Sharon, returns home from a date. She goes to Valerie's room to return her raincoat. Valerie is in her nightclothes and watching TV from her bed. (Note: Chicago Tribune story puts this at 11:00 approx.)
12:30 am Valerie's father, Charles Percy, returns home from campaign duties. He watches TV with Loraine for about an hour and then they both retire for the night. (Note: Chicago Tribune story puts this at midnight approx.)
4:45-4:55 am Loraine is partially awakened by the sound of glass breaking. She thinks someone has knocked over a drinking glass and goes back to sleep.
5:00-5:03 am Loraine is awakened again, fully this time, by the sound of someone moaning. She goes down the hall, first to Sharon's room where she hears nothing, then to Valerie's. She opens the door and sees a man bending over the bed, shining a flashlight on Valerie's bloody body and bed. She screams in surprise. The man shines the flashlight in her eyes, briefly blinding her. Loraine steps back, turns and runs to rouse Charles. The attacker runs out of the bedroom, down the stairs and out the french door.
5:05 am Loraine trips the burglar alarm siren mounted on the roof. This is the only timemark that is consistently agreed on in all the different accounts of the events. Mr. Percy goes to his daughter's room. Loraine either accompanies him or follows soon after. The alarm siren wakens the next door neighbors, Dr. Robert and Nydia Hohf. Nydia Hohf runs out to the back yard. From here she can see the south side of the Percy house and the private beach. She sees no one. The phone rings inside the Hohf's. It's Mr. Percy asking Dr. Hohf to come and see Valerie. Dr. Hohf puts on pants over his pajamas and goes next door.
5:07-5:10 am Mr. Percy meets Dr. Hohf at the door. He goes straight to Valerie's room. He is unable to help her. He goes downstairs and tells the Percys that Valerie is dead. Loraine says she thought she detected a pulse in her wrist just before Dr. Hohf got there. Mr. Percy phoned for the Kenilworth police while the doctor was upstairs.
5:15 am or later The police arrive and the investigation begins.
