Woman convicted of murder in Channahon shooting; faces minimum sentence of 56 years in prison
June 8
JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a jury has found a Joliet woman guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a Channahon man two years ago.
Mary Vetor, 25, also was convicted of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and home invasion. The jury deliberated for 3-1/2 hours before reaching its verdict.
Vetor faces a minimum of 56 years in prison when she is sentenced by Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak on Aug. 8.
Vetor supplied the weapons – a gun and a baseball bat – that were used during the home invasion inside the Channahon apartment of Joshua Terdic on July 7, 2009. Terdic was shot in the head during the home invasion and died 10 days later. Another female victim, Lauren Vasilakis, also was shot but survived the attack.
In addition to supplying the weapons, Vetor helped to hatch the plan to steal money and drugs from Terdic. She also drove the two men who carried out the plan to Terdic’s home.
“Although she never entered the residence, Mary Vetor provided the deadly weapons and was intimately involved in the planning and orchestration of this brutal attack,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “Because of her contemptible behavior, she is as responsible for the murder of Joshua Terdic as if she had placed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The jury heard all of the evidence and agreed.”
Two other defendants, Jason S. Orasco, 26, of Channahon, and Matthew Edwards, 19, of Joliet, also face charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and home invasion in connection with the incident. They are awaiting trial.
A fourth defendant, Ashley Hill, 19, of Joliet, pleaded guilty to home invasion and was sentenced to 11 years in prison in exchange for her truthful testimony against Vetor.
Glasgow credited his prosecutors – Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Fitzgerald, who heads the office’s Felony Division, Christine Vukmir and Daniel Walsh – for their expert work that left jurors with no doubt as to Vetor’s guilt. He also praised the Will County Major Crimes Task Force for a first-rate investigation.
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.