IL IL - Starved Rock State Park Murders of three women, 4 Mar 1960

[rob525]

I am on the fence but isn't it strong evidence against him that he re-enacted the murders?

From what I have read. His confession / reenactment was pretty detailed.

 

[Richard]

LIFE Magazine February 17, 1961​

Pg… 43 ARTICLES: The Case of the Overlooked Clues: Dogged Work of Two Small–Town Cops in Illinois Finds Starved Rock Murder Suspect. By Michel Silva

This article contains many photos and details of the case against Chester Weger

 

[Richard]

From: Daily Illini, 15 February 1961​

State Probes Starved Rock Killing In Effort To Send Weger to Chair​

OTTAWA , M . ( JP ) — Chester ( Rocky ) Weger , accused of slaying three women , listened unemotionally Tuesday as the prosecution began io fit together small pieces of a case ; t hopes will send him to the electric chair . Weger; 21 , a cool , wiry man , is on trial in Circuit Court on a charge of murdering Mrs. Lillian . Getting , 50 * in Starved Rock State ; Park . She and the wives of ¦ ¦ two other Chicago business executives; Mrs. Frances Murphy, 47 , and Mrs. Mildred Lindquist, 50, went out for a hike in the park March 14 , I 960. They never returned. Their battered bodies were found in a cave two days later...

Henry Woolford, who was in charge of an Illinois Youth Camp at Marseilles, testified that he and a group of boys were enlisted in the search for the missing women. Found by Hunters - He related how the hunters waded through heavy snow and came upon the bodies in a cave in St . Louis Canyon on March 16 . Woolford pointed out the cave in a dead-end canyon on a map in the court room.

Sgt. Michael E. Frankovich of the state police , who took part in the investigation of the crime told about the appearance of the bodies in the cave . Earlier , William Dummett, a deputy sheriff who also is a photographer, had testified about at least 30 pictures of the cave and slaying scene. The jury of seven women and five men was absent at the time.

Judge Leonard Hoffman upheld a defense objection to the photographs, saying the prosecution was premature in seeking to have them introduced as evidence at this time. Defense attorney John McNamara argued the photographs were inflammatory to the jury and prejudicial to the defendant. Introduce Photograph Hoffman said however that later in the trial he might permit States Atty. Robert E . Richardson to introduce one photograph of the slaying scene, provided the state establishes that the pictures have probative value. The photographs showed the bodies of the victims, their clothing, and general scenes of the lonely canyon in which the women met their deaths .

Weger, a handyman at the lodge, admitted the slayings in a statement made Nov . 17 . But he retracted the admission later . But Judge Hoffman has ruled that it can be used as evidence...

LINK:

Daily Illini 15 February 1961 — Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections

Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections

idnc.library.illinois.edu

 

[Richard]

From what I have read. His confession / reenactment was pretty detailed.

When researching any historical event, and in particular the trial and conviction of Chester Weger, it is always best to review primary documents and accounts.

Below is a link to the complete text of the appellate ruling on Weger's appeal, dated 1962. It details the facts in the case and covers all of Weger's complaints regarding the conduct of the trial - in particular the inclusion of his confession as evidence. Great consideration was given to the specifics of his confession, to his claims of threats made, and also other evidence presented at trial which corroborated his confession.

The last paragraph of this long discussion is the appellate court's final ruling.

LINK:

The PEOPLE v. Weger

The PEOPLE v. Weger - 185 N.E.2d 183, 25 Ill. 2d 370

law.justia.com

 

[Gloomy Bear]

I'm of the opinion he is definitely guilty but he is still covering for the son of the lodge owner, who may have also been involved. Now he is claiming complete innocence because he's old and wants the support and company of his family, who are convinced he's innocent.

 

[ReallyRose63]

60 years ago...

The three women from the Chicago suburbs, Mildred Lindquist, Lillian Oetting and Frances Murphy, who hiked to their fate in Starved Rock’s St. Louis Canyon.

Chester Rocky Weger was convicted of killing Mildred Lindquist, age 50, one of three women found dead in the park. He was never tried for the deaths of Lillian Oetting, 50, or Frances Murphy, 47. All were killed on 3 March 1960.

Weger was sentenced to life in prison and began his sentence in Menard State Prison.

Weger always claimed that he was innocent of the killings.

In November 1964, a 27 year old prisoner in Texas, John M. Peters claimed that he had killed the three Chicago women. He also claimed to have beaten a woman to death in Marshall, Texas in 1955, and claimed to have shot a man to death in El Capitan, New Mexico.

LINK:

THE STARVED ROCK MURDERS — American Hauntings

 

[Richard]

Bumping this thread up. This March will mark 62 years since these three women were murdered.