Crime & Safety

Former Wheaton Man Guilty of Soliciting Murder

Jury finds Gordon Vanderark guilty of soliciting murder of a DuPage County judge and assistant state's attorney.

A DuPage County jury has found Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) inmate and former Wheaton resident Gordon Vanderark guilty of soliciting the murder of two DuPage County officials, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced Wednesday.

According to a news release from the State's Attorney's office, Vanderark solicited a fellow inmate between December 27, 2010 and November 15, 2011, to kill Judge Blanch Fawell and Assistant State’s Attorney Audrey Anderson upon the inmate's release.

In December of 2010, Fawell sentenced Vanderark to 16 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after he pled guilty to Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI), a Class X Felony.

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Recently released from Centralia Correction Center, to show he was serious about the hit on Fawell, Anderson, his wife and the man who held his power of attorney, according to the Daily Herald. Myers later wrote to Fawell to warn her of the plot and agreed to have a recording device taped to his chest during discussions with Vanderark, the Herald reported.

Vanderark had agreed to pay the “hit man” a total $70,000 for the murders, according to the release.

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“Approximately two and a half years ago, Gordon Vanderark hatched a plot to get even with those he felt were responsible for his incarceration,” Berlin said in a statement. “Today, after hearing all the evidence against him, a jury held Mr. Vanderark responsible for his actions and found him guilty of attempting to have two officers of the murdered."

Vanderark will return to court June 5 for the return of a pre-sentencing report. He faces a minimum of 20 years in the IDOC, according to the release.

Related posts:

  • Prosecutors Deny Violating Murder For Hire Suspect's Rights
  • Murder-for-Hire Suspect Wants Statements Barred
  • Judge Won’t Disqualify Prosecutors From Murder Plot Case
  • Former Wheaton Resident Pleads Not Guilty to Murder Solicitation Charges
  • Inmate Allegedly Solicited Murder of Two Public Officials


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