Weger awaits ruling on new special prosecutor

Push for new evidence testing on hold until issue settled

By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com

Chester Weger was hoping to get a ruling Wednesday on whether more of the aged evidence from the Starved Rock murders can go back to the crime lab. Instead, that issue is on hold.

La Salle County Judge Michael C. Jansz said he must first decide whether the special prosecutor, the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, will stay in the case. That will be decided June 20.

Weger, 84, appeared in La Salle County Circuit Court in his ongoing effort to overturn his murder conviction. He was sentenced to life in prison for the 1960 murder of Lillian Oetting, who was found bludgeoned to death along with two companions in the state park. He was paroled in 2019.

He was hoping to get more of crime-scene evidence submitted for fresh testing. Tuesday, however, one of Weger’s lawyers filed a motion for substitution of special prosecutor.

Andy Hale doesn’t think Weger has been getting a fair shake from the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office. In the 116-page brief, Hale alleges Will County “attempted to thwart

[Weger’s] forensic testing of evidence from the crime scene by misrepresenting the state of that evidence and objecting to [Weger’s] motion for forensic testing.” when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

Hale wants Jansz to install a new special prosecutor. Wednesday, however, Hale asked Jansz to rule first on what can go to crime lab before settling the new motion on special prosecutor.

“We were hoping that motion [for forensic testing] can be heard and resolved [Wednesday],” Hale said.

Jansz, however, said he could not and rule on the evidentiary dispute until he fleshes out whether the Will County prosecutors stay in the case.

“I honestly think we need to have some certainty has who the prosecutor is,” Jansz said.

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has until May 26 to answer Hale’s motion seeking a change in special prosecutor. Hale asked for a week to reply to whatever they file. Jansz then will hear and potentially decide the motion on Tuesday, June 20.

Weger confessed to the killings but recanted and has spent the past six decades trying to throw out his conviction. Recently, attorneys have asked for fresh testing of the 1960 evidence, arguing that scientific advances have made it possible to get results that once were unobtainable.

He’ll have to wait until June before learning whether more evidence from the Starved Rock murders goes back to the crime lab. Chester Weger, seen her exiting the La Salle County courthouse after a previous hearing on Feb. 24. Weger’s lawyers want a new special prosector and that, his judge said, must be settled before the evidentiary issue is resolved.

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Joyce Ann Marie Kemp

Born: November 26, 1928 in Peru, Illinois

Died: April 20, 2023 in Spring Valley, Illinois

Joyce Ann Marie

Theisinger Kemp passed on April 20, 2023 at the age of 94 years. She was born to William and Myrtle Theisinger in Peru, IL on November 26, 1928.

Joyce Ann graduated from Hopkins High School in Granville, IL following which she went to Peoria, IL to Beauty School. She had a beauty shop in Granville, IL for several years. She met her loving husband, Bill Kemp and several years later they were married on August 28, 1949, at the County Line Church in Peru, IL.

For a short time, they lived in Peoria while her husband finished college. They made their first home in a one room house until 1951 when they had a house built on the same farm.

She has five loving children, Terry (Cheri) Kemp of Dixon, IL, Linda (Dan) DeMattia, of Hennepin, IL, Gary (Janet) Kemp of Oswego, IL, David (Kathy) Kemp of Coal Valley, IL and Lisa (Darren) Petersen of Princeton, IL. She also has two sisters, Marilyn Freedy of Batavia, IL, Carol (Gene) Schinzer of West Brooklyn, IL, 10 grandchildren, 18 great grand- children and two great-great grandchildren. She was a very active woman. Joyce was a member of Psi Omega, Hennepin United Methodist Church, Hennepin United Methodist Women, Hennepin American Legion Auxiliary, Putnam County Historical Society and loved playing cards and dominoes with her long-time friends. She worked at Westclox, Steinbergs, was a telephone operator in Hennepin, worked for the Hennepin Park District and Hennepin Grocery Store. Her most important job was being a Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma and Great-Great Grandma to her family, of which she was immensely proud.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Donald, and her husband, Bill. Contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at Dysart – Cofoid Funeral Chapel, 208 S. McCoy St. Granville, IL. Service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2023 at Dysart – Cofoid Funeral Chapel, Granville. Pastor Phil Jackson will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Hennepin.

Online condolences may be made to her family at www.dcfunerals.com

Mary Ann Ragogna

Born: July 30, 1935 in Spring Valley, Illinois

Died: April 18, 2023 in Princeton, Illinois

Mary Ann Ragogna, 87, of Mark passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at Liberty Village in Princeton.

The family will have a private visitation and Mass of Christian Burial per Mary Ann’s request. Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Granville.

Dysart – Cofoid Funeral Chapel will be assisting the family with the arrangements.

Mary Ann was born on July 30, 1935 in Spring Valley to Peter and Maria (Riva) Nevicosi. She married Raymond Ragogna on July 14, 1956 in Dalzell.

She graduated from Hall High School. She worked at Hobbs in Spring Valley on the

Halogen/Packing Line. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Granville.

Survivors include one son, Mark Ragogna of Colorado; two daughters, Vicki (Gene) Gensini of McNabb and Tina (Randi) Naumann of Oglesby; five grandchildren, Victor (Jenna) Gensini, Maria (Tony) Miller, Doug Naumann, Gina Naumann and Taylor Naumann; four great-grandchildren, Ethan Miller, Evan Miller, Antonio Gensini and Giovanni Gensini.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 2022, three brothers, one sister and one great-grandson, Angelo Gensini.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church or St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at P.O. Box 217 Granville, IL 61326.

Online condolences may be made to her family at www.dcfunerals.com

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