JOLIET— On June 18, 2025, the Honorable Judge Michael C. Jansz of LaSalle County denied Chester Weger’s post-conviction petition which requested Judge Jansz to vacate Chester Weger’s murder conviction based on a claim of actual innocence. Weger spent 60 years behind bars for the murder of Lillian Oetting, who was one of three women murdered in 1960 at Starved Rock State Park. In January 2021, Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow accepted the appointment as special prosecutor in this case due to a conflict of interest with the then LaSalle County State’s Attorney.  Judge Jansz’s ruling followed a third stage post-conviction evidentiary hearing that began on May 12, 2025 and concluded on May 28, 2025.

On March 14, 1960, three Chicagoland women, Mildred Lindquist, Frances Murphy and Lilllian Oetting set out on what was to be a four-day vacation at the popular natural attraction: Starved Rock Park near Utica, Illinois.  However, on that date, they were never seen or heard from again after eating lunch at the Lodge restaurant.  Their severely beaten bodies were found two days later on March 16, 1960. Aside from their severe facial injuries, their bodies were posed and their wrists were bound.  Ultimately, Chester Weger, who worked as a dishwasher at the Lodge, confessed to this murder.  Following a jury trial for the murder of Lillian Oetting, during which that confession and other evidence was provided as to defendant’s guilt, a jury convicted defendant of First-Degree murder.

After defendant’s direct appeal, and several post-conviction petitions had been filed and denied, defendant filed the final motion for leave to file a successive post-conviction petition, which the trial court granted and which ultimately proceeded to the evidentiary hearing held between May 12, 2025 and May 28, 2025.  The defense argued that Defendant’s confession was a false confession that was the product of law enforcement coercion. In addition, the defense presented numerous witnesses including forensic experts who testified that a lone hair found at the scene did not belong to Chester Weger. The defense also called witnesses to testify who attempted to establish that this crime was the product of the husbands’ of the victims contracting with the mafia to carry out these murders. After the hearing, Judge Jansz concluded that the evidence presented was not credible and upheld the conviction.

Glasgow thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Colleen Griffin, Christopher Koch, and Jon Walters who spearheaded the 54-month long investigation with extensive research, discovery, briefings and litigation. Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Shlifka joined the team for the final hearing and excelled at cross examining key witnesses. Glasgow also thanked investigators Patrick Cardwell, Shawn Filipiak, Louis Silich, Mark Revis, and Scott Lustik who followed up on issues raised by interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence.

“Our office worked diligently for 4.5 years reviewing the evidence from the original prosecution and all of the materials provided by Weger’s attorneys during the lengthy post-conviction process.” Glasgow said.

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