Edward Tenney – White, age 32
Sentenced in DuPage County Illinois
By: a jury
Date of crime: April 16, 1992.
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Tenney robbed Jerry Weber (age 24) of his wallet containing $6 before shooting him. Tenney was already serving life sentences for the murder of Virginia Johannessen and Jill Oberweis in early 1993 during separate home invasions. The defense noted Tenney’s abusive childhood. The prosecution focused on Tenney’s long history of crimes that led up to the murders (armed robberies, burglaries, jail escapes). However, shortly after Tenney’s conviction, Democratic Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation that abolished the death penalty in Illinois. Therefore, Tenney has since been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Sources: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) 3/10/10 (2010 WLNR 5186031), Chicago Sun Times (IL) 3/10/10 (2010 WLNR 4999606), Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) 4/22/10 (2010 WLNR 8495337), Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) 5/4/10 (2010 WLNR 9532321), Rockford Register Star (Rockford, IL) 7/1/11 (http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x1721562342/Illinois-death-row-officially-shuts-down).
By: a jury
Date of crime: April 16, 1992.
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Tenney robbed Jerry Weber (age 24) of his wallet containing $6 before shooting him. Tenney was already serving life sentences for the murder of Virginia Johannessen and Jill Oberweis in early 1993 during separate home invasions. The defense noted Tenney’s abusive childhood. The prosecution focused on Tenney’s long history of crimes that led up to the murders (armed robberies, burglaries, jail escapes). However, shortly after Tenney’s conviction, Democratic Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation that abolished the death penalty in Illinois. Therefore, Tenney has since been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Sources: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) 3/10/10 (2010 WLNR 5186031), Chicago Sun Times (IL) 3/10/10 (2010 WLNR 4999606), Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) 4/22/10 (2010 WLNR 8495337), Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) 5/4/10 (2010 WLNR 9532321), Rockford Register Star (Rockford, IL) 7/1/11 (http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x1721562342/Illinois-death-row-officially-shuts-down).