Starved Rock murderer Chester Weger request for lab testing continued to Dec. 14

The Starved Rock murderer could learn before Christmas whether he’ll get a crime lab to take a fresh look at the 1960 killings.

Lawyers for 81-year-old Chester Weger appeared Tuesday for a hearing on the killer’s quest for laboratory testing. But after closed-door conferences, Judge Michael C. Jansz approved the state’s request for a continuance until Dec. 14.

Weger, who was granted parole in 2019 after serving six decades for murder, has not been personally present for the evidentiary hearings to date.

As previously reported, Weger’s lawyers have asked Jansz to submit existing evidence to the lab, arguing advanced techniques are available to shed new light on the 60-year-old case. Jansz has so far denied their motions, ruling Weger hasn’t met the legal threshold for new analysis.

Weger was sentenced to life in prison for killing Lillian Oetting. Though he later recanted, he confessed to killing Oetting and two companions, Frances Murphy and Mildred Lindquist, in a botched robbery at Starved Rock State Park.