Crime & Safety

Witness: Inmate Ordered Deaths of Public Officials, Ex-Wife

Former Centralia inmate testifies he received money and instructions for killing two public officials and others on behalf of former Wheaton resident Gordon Vanderark, the Daily Herald reports.

An ex-con said in DuPage County court this week he was offered $70,000 to kill a DuPage County judge, a prosecutor and several other people for former Wheaton resident Gordon Vanderark, the Daily Herald reported Wednesday.

Between December 27, 2010 and November 15, 2011, Vanderark, 55, an inmate at the Centralia Correction Center, allegedly solicited a hit man to kill Judge Blanche Fawell and Assistant State’s Attorney Audrey Anderson, according to a press release from DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin. Vanderark also allegedly solicited the murder of his ex-wife Tina Williamson and Richard Temes, an acquaintance of his.

In 2010, Fawell sentenced Vanderark to 24 years in prison for 10 DUIs. 

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Recently released from Centralia, Harold Myers, 60, testified Vanderark gave him $2,100 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 Herald. He testified Vanderark had specific instructions for how he wanted the victims tortured and killed. 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 reports.

The trial will continue Thursday, May 9.

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Read the full story on the Daily Herald here.

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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