Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The public defender assigned to represent the man accused of murdering 14-year-old Lyons Township teen Kelli O'Laughlin said that having his client nearly 100 miles away could pose a problem.
The public defender assigned to represent John L. Wilson, the man charged with stabbing 14-year-old Lyons Township teen Kelli O'Laughlin to death in her own home, met his client today for the first time. On May 15, Wilson dismissed his attorneys, Naperville-based John Paul Carroll and co-counsel Michelle Gonzalez, and asked to represent himself. It was a move that surprised even Carroll. "It's insane for a person not to have an attorney," Carroll told Patch after the May 15 hearing. "That's like asking me to rebuild my own car engine." The judge asked Wilson at the time if he wanted some time to think about his decision. "I think you need to think hard and fast. These are serious matters. I believe there is forensic evidence in this case. …
Monday, May 14, 2012
John L. Wilson has been indicted on 31 felony charges and faces life in prison for the first-degree murder of 14-year-old Lyons Township freshman Kelli O'Laughlin.
The man charged with the murder of an Indian Head Park teen is requesting to represent himself at trial. The attorney who had been representing him, Naperville-based John Paul Carroll is facing *disciplinary action and a possible 90-day suspension for two unrelated cases. John L. Wilson is charged with murdering 14-year-old Kelli O'Laughlin, a freshman at Lyons Township High School, after she came home from school and walked in on him burglarizing her house last October. Carroll had agreed to continue to represent Wilson through any disciplinary proceedings, because the potential disciplinary action did not disqualify him from doing so. Judge John Joseph Hynes asked Wilson today if he wanted to continue to be represented by Carroll and co-…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
District 106 held an indoor and outdoor ceremony to open a new memorial outside Highlands Middle School to their tragically slain young alumna.
Long live the walls we crashed through/all the kingdom lights shined just for me and you/I was screaming, long live all the magic we made/And bring on all the pretenders, one day we will be remembered... So sang the Highlands Middle School show choir on Wednesday, performing Taylor Swift’s “Long Live” as they dedicated a new “peace garden” in front of the school memorializing Kelli Joy O’Laughlin, a 2011 Highlands graduate who was killed in her Indian Head Park home in October. The garden consists of a granite bench, a Jane magnolia tree and a stone with a plaque bearing Kelli’s name. On Wednesday, the tree was decorated in ribbons bearing the names of the Highlands Middle School Class of 2011—so Kelli could be “surrounded by her …
Monday, April 23, 2012
Although John L. Wilson has twice proven impossible to examine, he did show new signs of comprehension in court on Monday.
The man accused of the October 2011 murder of 14-year-old Indian Head Park resident Kelli O’Laughlin has twice failed to cooperate with a mental-health examination by Cook County Forensic Clinical Services, prosecutors said in Cook County 5th District court on Monday. Attempts were made to examine John L. Wilson on April 17 and April 20, both unsuccessful. Exam administers asked for an extension to try again, which Associate Judge John J. Hynes has granted. Hynes once again remanded Wilson to the Cook County Department of Corrections for a third exam later this week and issued a warning that future lack of cooperation would automatically invalidate any type of insanity defense. In contrast to his last court appearance, Wilson generally …
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The O'Laughlin family writes a letter of thanks to everyone who pulled together to support them and the memory of their daughter, Kelli.
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Thursday, April 5, 2012
Thank You. Two small words, but they mean so much to us. Since our beautiful girl with the radiant, contagious smile was taken from us last fall, people have astounded us with their thoughtfulness and generosity in Kelli’s name. Kelli’s name is, in fact, now inextricably linked with those willing to help others in some way. It is fitting that so many people—of all ages, literally all over the world—have come together to not only support our family, but to raise funds so that others many benefit. After all, our Kelli Joy was always helping others, whether teaching and playing with children, giving her time and talent to schools, teams and clubs or simply asking someone sitting alone at a nearby lunch table to come join her and her friends. …
Monday, April 2, 2012
The community of Indian Head Park has issued a proclamation that her birthday will be celebrated every year as a memorial day to the slain teen starting today.
At 3 p.m. Monday, residents of the community of Indian Head Park will observe one minute of silence in memory of Kelli O'Laughlin, who was brutally murdered in her own home last October. On what would have been her 15th birthday, the community has designated today and every April 2 going forward, Kelli Joy O'Laughlin Memorial Day. A proclamation dated March 8 and signed by Indian Head Park Mayor Richard S. Andrews stated in part, "Whereas Kelli Joy exhibited a vivacious personality, love of life and concern for others as exemplifiied by her infectious joy and sparkling smile, and had dreams of using her God-given talents someday as a pediatrician or school teacher; and whereas Kelli Joy was lost to us before she could achieve the promise …
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
A judge has ordered John L. Wilson to submit to a mental-health examination and has issued a protective order to restrict the release of information outside the courtroom.
John L. Wilson, the man accused of the October 2011 murder of Lyons Township freshman Kelli O’Laughlin repeatedly answered “no” when asked if he understood various facts relating to his case Tuesday, prompting a judge to order him to undergo a mental health evaluation. Associate Judge John J. Hynes asked Wilson if he understood that his attorney, Naperville-based John P. Carroll, is currently appealing a suspension from the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois (a status which does not prohibit him from representing Wilson.) Nearly a dozen times, Wilson responded “no” when asked if he understood this and other statements, both nodding and shaking his head while answering. “What don’t you …
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Monday, December 5, 2011
Patch talked to the former Chicago homicide detective, who told his reasons for taking the case to defend the accused murderer of Kelli O’Laughlin.
It may surprise some that the man defending the accused murderer of a 14-year-old Lyons Township freshman pro bono has a 14-year-old of his own—and that he plans to enter a plea of not guilty for John L. Wilson, Jr. Wilson is the man charged in the brutal stabbing death of 14-year-old Kelli O’Laughlin. Police say Wilson murdered the Indian Head Park teen after she walked in on him burglarizing her home. The complaint by the Cook County state’s attorney alleges that Wilson then took O’Laughlin’s cell phone and began sending her mother "taunting and disturbing" text messages. Naperville-based attorney John Paul Carroll is a former Chicago homicide detective, who said he heard about the case while in the courthouse defending another client. …
Friday, November 4, 2011
Wilson will appear before a judge in bond court this morning on charges of first degree murder in stabbing death of Kelli O'Laughlin.
(Updated news from this story with full details of the crime and investigation can be found here.) Information on the criminal background of the person charged can be found here.) Charges have been filed in the murder of a 14-year-old Indian Head Park teen. Although police have yet to release an official statement, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and NBC5 report that the charges are for first-degree murder. John L. Wilson Jr., 38, of Chicago has been charged in O'Laughlin's death. Wilson is set to face a judge in bond court this morning. According to Fox News Chicago, Wilson was stopped the night of the murder by a Willow Springs police officer. Wilson told the officer his car had broken down and he was getting a cab. The officer …
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friends who knew Kelli O'Laughlin since kindergarten will miss her.
About a dozen Lyons Township High School freshmen tied white ribbons around trees in front of the school in Western Springs Friday afternoon. "They're white, because white is pure, just like Kelli," said Abby, a friend of fellow freshman Kelli O'Laughlin, 14, who was murdered after getting home from school on Thursday. The group of students are remembering Kelli by putting together scrapbooks of their times together, and a memorial Facebook page has been created. Most of the students had gone to school with Kelli since kindergarten and several were on the cross country team with her. Friday afternoon, they wore purple ribbons around their heads. "Purple was her favorite color," said Lindsey, another LT freshman, who said she used to call …
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Sandy Kaczmarski
1:49 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
The plaque was back in place before classes this morning according to Ken Hoffling in buildings and grounds. It was removed briefly for adjustments and is now permanently installed at the peace garden. more ›