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Special prosecutor needed for Chester Weger DNA case

Murderer's request for lab testing continued to Jan. 11

The judge who will decide whether convicted murderer Chester Weger gets a fresh trip to the crime lab has ordered a special prosecutor be assigned and continued the case until Jan. 11.

Judge Michael C. Jansz was expected to rule Monday on whether Weger, 81, can get items retrieved from the 1960 murder scene at Starved Rock State Park submitted for new forensic analysis.

However, the new state’s attorney of La Salle County disclosed that he has a potential conflict and cannot proceed. Todd Martin had represented deputy auditors Tori Artman and Pamela Wright, who now are represented by Hale & Monico, the firm representing Weger.

Jansz agreed to let Martin withdraw and signed an order seeking a special prosecutor. Outside counsel will be assigned before the case returns to court Jan. 11.

Weger, who was granted parole in 2019 after serving six decades for murder, and his lawyers have asked Jansz to submit existing evidence to the lab, arguing that advanced techniques are available to shed new light on the 60-year-old case. Jansz so far has 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.

Tom Collins

Tom Collins

Tom Collins covers criminal justice in La Salle County.