Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim said Friday he would immediately request the release of a Chicago man convicted of murder in 2004 -- if evidence shows he is innocent. However, Nerheim said it is too soon to know if the unexpected match between DNA recovered at the 1992 murder of 11-year-old Holly Staker in Waukegan and DNA recovered from a separate 2000 attack in North Chicago exonerates Marvin Williford. Williford, 43, of Chicago, was convicted of the grisly murder of Delwin Foxworth and sentenced to 80 years in prison. In a January 2000 robbery of his North Chicago apartment, Foxworth was beaten with a 2x4, bound with duct tape and set on fire. He initially survived, but died from his injuries in August 2002. Now, DNA recovered from the 2x4 has been matched to a DNA sample taken from the murder of Holly Staker, until now thought to be an entirely separate crime. Staker, 11, was found stabbed, raped and strangled inside a Waukegan apartment where she and her twin sister, Heather, frequently baby-sat two small children. Juan Rivera, formerly of Waukegan, spent 20 years in prison for Staker's murder, convicted by three separate juries. DNA evidence eventually exonerated … Continue reading →

Jayson Q. Johnson, 26, of Orem, was arrested Friday for investigation of raping an 11-year-old girl who was attacked as she walked to school in February. Johnson lives just two blocks from where the crime occurred. Utah County Jail OREM Police say the monthslong search for a man who raped an 11-year-old Orem girl in February is likely over after DNA evidence matched with a convicted felon. Jayson Q. Johnson, 26, of Orem, was booked into the Utah County Jail Friday for investigation of rape of a child, aggravated sexual abuse of a child and kidnapping of a child. He lives just two blocks from where the attack occurred. It's an arrest that brought some much-needed emotional relief to an 11-year-old girl and her family. "Obviously, having such a violent personal encounter, she was very happy to know that he was in custody," Orem Police Sgt. Matt Pedersen said. "The family's very excited that an arrest was made and hopefully can move forward with a little more confidence now." On the morning of Feb. 5, the girl was walking to Cherry Hill Elementary, 250 E. 600 South, when a man grabbed her by her backpack as she was entering through … Continue reading →