Post by sclcookie on Jun 6, 2006 1:42:15 GMT -5
Judge certifies death penalty for Runge
A Cook County Criminal Court judge on Monday signed the death warrant for
convicted killer Paul Runge, according to the Cook County States Attorneys
office.
Criminal Court Judge J.G. Kazmierski Jr. signed the death warrant for
Runge, states attorneys office spokesman Andy Conklin said. In signing the
warrant, Kazmierski certified a jurys recommendation in late February to
sentence Runge to death.
A jury earlier this year convicted Runge of raping and slashing the
throats of Yolanda Gutierrez, 35, and her 10-year-old daughter, Jessica
Muniz. The 2 bodies were found in February 1997, badly burned and showing
signs of sexual assault; DNA taken from Jessica's throat linked back to
Runge, who confessed to the crimes -- and allegedly to the murders of 5
other women -- on videotape.
Runge will be on death row until all of his appeals are exhausted, which
can take a number of years, according to a spokeswoman for the Illinois
Department of Corrections. She could not provide an exact time frame for
how long Runge could spend on death row.
(source: Chicago Sun-Times)
A Cook County Criminal Court judge on Monday signed the death warrant for
convicted killer Paul Runge, according to the Cook County States Attorneys
office.
Criminal Court Judge J.G. Kazmierski Jr. signed the death warrant for
Runge, states attorneys office spokesman Andy Conklin said. In signing the
warrant, Kazmierski certified a jurys recommendation in late February to
sentence Runge to death.
A jury earlier this year convicted Runge of raping and slashing the
throats of Yolanda Gutierrez, 35, and her 10-year-old daughter, Jessica
Muniz. The 2 bodies were found in February 1997, badly burned and showing
signs of sexual assault; DNA taken from Jessica's throat linked back to
Runge, who confessed to the crimes -- and allegedly to the murders of 5
other women -- on videotape.
Runge will be on death row until all of his appeals are exhausted, which
can take a number of years, according to a spokeswoman for the Illinois
Department of Corrections. She could not provide an exact time frame for
how long Runge could spend on death row.
(source: Chicago Sun-Times)