A 24-year-old father of three young children named Jerry Weber was repeatedly shot in the head by Edward Tenney for just $6, according to an article by the Chicago Tribune. A DuPage County jury handed down a guilty verdict to Mr. Tenney who is already in prison for two other first-degree murders.
Members of the jury next will decide whether to sentence Mr. Tenney to death, although executions in the state remain on hold after former Gov. George Ryan instituted a moratorium.
The crime took place nearly 18 years ago when Mr. Weber's van got stuck in the mud near an abandoned farm where he was collecting flagstones. Mr. Tenney and another man were collecting cans for recycling when they saw Mr. Weber.
According to prosecutors, the two men didn't ask for Mr. Weber's money but instead decided to shoot first:
Prosecutors said Tenney walked up to Weber and shot him twice in the head. The gun then misfired and Tenney got a gun from Lippert and shot Weber twice more in the head.
Mr. Tenney wasn't charged with the crime until several years later when police found the murder weapon and Mr. Weber's wallet in the convict's possession. Mr. Tenney is eligible for the death penalty, but his Illinois criminal defense attorney is expected to order a psychological evaluation as part of his defense.
The Tribune also reports that evidence of Mr. Tenney's past criminal behavior will figure prominently in his sentencing hearing. He was convicted of murdering two widows in 1993; just one year after Mr. Weber's murder.
Related Resources:
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Status of the Insanity Defense (FindLaw)
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Anthony Sowell Insanity Plea Offered in 11 Deaths (FindLaw Blotter Blog)
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Murderer Accused of Trying to Dig Out of Cell (Daily Herald)
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Chicago Criminal Attorney Directory (FindLaw)
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