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“Person of Interest”

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Illinois

On April 19th, the Tribune reported:

Four years ago, Illinois State Police Maj. Edie Casella was in favor of reopening the case of slain newlyweds Karen and Dyke Rhoads in Downstate Paris.

At the time, Casella supervised a lieutenant who believed the two men in jail for the crime might be innocent. The lieutenant had identified a different potential suspect, an Edgar County businessman who once employed Karen Rhoads.

But at a meeting in the State Police Armory in Springfield in April 2001, Casella was told by Lt. Col. Diane Carper that the case would remain closed, Casella said Monday. […]

“You are not going to be able to reopen the Rhoads case,” Casella recalled Carper saying at the Armory meeting. “It’s too politically sensitive and it came from higher up than me.”

The “person of interest” was allegedly a major contributor to George Ryan, which is supposedly why the officer was told to back off.

Trib columnist Eric Zorn, by the way, has been writing about the case for years.

Last week, the “person of interest” came forward. From the Paris Beacon:

â€œEnough is enough,â€ Bob Morgan finally expressed this week.The publicity-shy entrepreneur says heâ€™s tired of hearing false accusations aimed at him.

â€œIn 1986 we expected anyone connected with the girl who worked for us (the late Karen Rhoads) to be looked at.â€

A Paris resident and entrepreneur for over 30 years, Morgan admits it was understandable to be included in the investigation when the young couple Dyke and Karen Rhoads were found murdered in their burning apartment on West Court street.

Now, 19 years later, with two court hearings underway referring to the case, Morgan says â€œenough is enough.â€

A train of accusations and innuendos have arisen from the hearing underway in Edgar County Circuit Court in which Herbert Whitlock seeks a new trial on his murder conviction, and more explicitly during a federal court civil trial in Urbana involving the Illinois State Police.

These allegations were attached to a â€œperson of interestâ€ according to a former state police investigator. His attorneys say they range from â€œnarcotics trafficking, arson, money laundering, to extortion and racketeering….and possibly five homicides.â€

And that â€œperson of interestâ€ was identified in court as Bob Morgan.

Before he came forward, Morgan hired Dan Curry, a public relations person who worked for former Attorney General Jim Ryan and former US Senator Peter Fitzgerald.

Curry talked about his involvement with Morgan in Illini Pundit’s comments section:

…a person I believe to be innocent is being smeared by allegations. He deserves a chance to defend himself from shadowy attacks…

Morgan and his company contributed about $27,000 to George Ryan’s campaign. Morgan also gave $2,500 to Jim Ryan’s committee.

Nothing in the Trib yet, but I imagine we’ll see something soon.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 25, 05 @ 12:01 am

Comments

Even if he did not do it, the possible fact that an investigation was scuttled is disturbing.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 25, 05 @ 6:01 am
I know Bob Morgan and he’s a great guy. He’s done a lot for Paris and no way is he involved in any of this. He’s the rich guy in town and people who need another “suspect” are throwing his name around.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 25, 05 @ 7:14 am
I knew of Joe Lombardo, and he’s a great guy. He’s done a lot for River Forest, Illinois and St. Angelis Catholic Church, donating thousands of dollars every year, and no way is he involved in any of the seven murders of the seven people who burglarized his home. He’s was “supposed to be” the top “Mafia guy” in Chicago and people who need another “suspect” are throwing his name around.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 28, 05 @ 4:49 pm
I think this whole case is not right. To see three top leaders in the state police in which one was not held liable anymore makes me sick. The two people who were tried and found guitly were not guilty I feel and the case was not justice by far. “Ironic” in relation to the Rhoads case one newspaper speaks….yeah it is. Callihan says that sufficient evidence was not presented, and in this case, sufficient evidence was not present either. It is the jury, the citizens who are swayed by poor material presented or lawyers who are very talented. Callihan probably spent a lot of time working on this case and has got a lot of support from other people. Why not? Two people were wrongfully convicted…which is the real reason why the jury sides with Callihan. Two individuals who have spent their careers working so hard to the ISP are being held accountable for something that I dont’ feel was in their ultimate control or intention. The Gov has gotten involved and trying to set an example it seems for the future and the press is horrible at viewing the real matter here but instead letting it be known about the Rhoads case which in anyones mind would lead to sympathy and knowing that two people were wrongly convicted, everyone wants revenge. The matter is about rights and TRUE FACTS…not murder…It shows that a persons anger from removal of a position when leaders are just trying to do their job leads to vengence, and in a money hungry world and a sueing happy world, damages are not worth no 700,000 dollars. I’ve been removed before from a position, it happens. My boss told me, but it came from higher up….It’s life.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 7, 05 @ 2:06 am