Introduction to the Case
The 86-year-old man known as the Starved Rock killer has died of cancer, his lawyer said Tuesday. Chester Weger died Sunday in Missouri with his family around him, according to his attorney Andrew Hale, who said Weger was recently diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
Background of the Conviction
Last week, Weger lost his bid to have his conviction overturned in the killing of one of three women found bludgeoned to death in 1960 in Starved Rock State Park, about 90 miles from Chicago in LaSalle County.
Chester Weger.
Illinois Department of Corrections.
The Bid to Overturn the Conviction
Weger was paroled in 2020 for good behavior in prison but didn’t have his conviction overturned. He was in prison for more than 60 years. Hale sought to overturn Weger’s conviction, saying in a June 18 evidentiary hearing in LaSalle County that the Chicago Outfit was probably behind the killings.
The Ruling and Its Aftermath
But Judge Michael Jansz didn’t buy the DNA evidence and witness statements about possible mob ties to the killings that Hale presented in court. Hale’s new evidence wasn’t “sufficient for the court to lose confidence in the guilty verdict,” the judge said.
Chester Weger (right), shown during a hearing in LaSalle County Court in connection with the killing of three women at Starved Rock State Park in 1960. Weger is seated next to his defense attorney, John McNamara.
The Case Details
In March 1960, the bodies of west suburban Riverside friends Lillian Oetting, 50, Frances Murphy, 47, and Mildred Linquist, 50, were found outside a cave at Starved Rock State Park after they went on a hike. In 1961, Weger, a dishwasher at a lodge at the park, was found guilty of killing Oetting. Prosecutors said he acted alone.
Conclusion
The death of Chester Weger brings an end to a significant chapter in the Starved Rock killings case, but the quest for truth and justice may continue through other means. His attorney, Andrew Hale, has expressed a commitment to proving Weger’s innocence, exploring options that could potentially shed new light on the events of 1960.
FAQs
- Q: Who was Chester Weger?
- A: Chester Weger was known as the Starved Rock killer, convicted of murdering one of three women found dead in Starved Rock State Park in 1960.
- Q: What was the outcome of Weger’s bid to overturn his conviction?
- A: Weger lost his bid to have his conviction overturned, with the judge ruling that the new evidence presented was not sufficient to overturn the guilty verdict.
- Q: What are the plans following Weger’s death?
- A: His attorney, Andrew Hale, plans to continue exploring options to prove Weger’s innocence, despite the death ending the direct appeal process.
