WHEATON – A DuPage County jury sentenced Edward Tenney to death Tuesday for his third murder conviction.
Tenney, 50, already was serving two life sentences for Kane County murder convictions in the 1993 deaths of dairy heiress Mary Jill Oberweis and her neighbor Virginia Johannesen of Aurora Township.
On Tuesday, jurors sentenced Tenney to death for the 1992 shooting death of 24-year-old Jerry Weber of Aurora – Tenney's third murder, according to prosecutors.
The trial for Weber's murder began weeks ago with jury selection and ended Tuesday after jurors deliberated for two hours to determine whether Tenney should receive a death sentence or life in prison.
Tenney's cousin and co-defendant Donald Lippert – who was a teenager at the time of the shootings – testified against Tenney in all three murder trials. Tenney shot Weber as he stopped to attend to a stuck vehicle, according to prosecutors. He then stole his wallet.
Similarly, Oberweis and Johannesen were shot during burglary attempts in their homes. Lippert is in prison for his role in the crimes.
