EIU student found strangled in her apartment
Anne Warfield
Police call student's death a homicide
June 14, 2001
CHARLESTON (AP) - An Eastern Illinois University student found dead in
her apartment was strangled after an apparent struggle with her
assailant, an autopsy conducted Wednesday found.
Coles County Coroner Michael Nichols said that Shannon E. McNamara,
21, had bruises on her body that indicated she fought with her
attacker.
McNamara of Rolling Meadows was found Tuesday morning by her roommate
in her off-campus apartment. She was a physical education major
seeking a teacher certification, according to university officials,
and was enrolled in summer courses. She was scheduled to graduate in
the spring of 2002, a university spokeswoman said.
Charleston police interviewed residents of McNamara's apartment
complex and searched vacant apartments in the building. Illinois State
Police and the Eastern Illinois University Police are assisting in the
investigation. None of the agencies would comment on Wednesday.
Police have made no arrests, according to a news release from the
Coles County State's Attorney's office.
Late Wednesday, McNamara's parents, Bob and Cindy McNamara, family
issued a statement through the university expressing their grief.
"When we said goodbye to Shannon last Thursday as she prepared to
leave our Rolling Meadows home and return to Charleston, we sent her
away with her bike, cell phone and car, thinking that she'd be safe
... that we had done everything in our power to ensure her safety,"
the statement said. "Whoever did this - it was their choice - it
wasn't Shannon's fault."
Charleston Police Chief Ted Ghibellini said police believe the slaying
was an isolated incident, but he urged students to be cautious.
Eastern Illinois police were adding more bike and foot patrols, said
university spokeswoman Vicki Woodard. The department also distributed
crime prevention tips to students in response to McNamara's death.
Jarad Kimbro, a senior at the university who lived in McNamara's
neighborhood in Charleston, knew her from class.
"She was just really nice," Kimbro said. "She was friends with
everybody. She'd give you the benefit of the doubt."
The university is helping to find on-campus housing for several
students who live in the complex where McNamara lived.
Friends and neighbors in Rolling Meadows said McNamara was a friendly
and talkative girl who watched out for children in her neighborhood.
"She would always acknowledge people with a wave and a smile," said
Tom Rybarczyk, who lives across the street from McNamara's parents,
Bob and Cindy.
Melanie Aronson, 21, said McNamara was a good friend.
"I never laughed so hard as when I was with her," Aronson said. "Every
time we were together, we would have fun."
Rolling Meadows High School Assistant Principal Ron Freeman said he
recently spoke with McNamara about her plans.
"She was a good student. A good person," Freeman said. "She did what
she was supposed to do."
http://pjstar.com/news/regional/g33754a.html
====================
From the Chicago Tribune--
EIU student was strangled
Police say they have strong lead
By Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah and Mickey Ciokajlo, Tribune staff reporters.
Tribune staff reporter Joe Biesk contributed...
June 14, 2001
A former track-and-field star from Rolling Meadows was choked to
death, a coroner ruled Wednesday, as police continued to investigate
her murder in an off-campus apartment near Eastern Illinois University
in Charleston.
An autopsy performed Wednesday by the Coles County coroner found that
Shannon McNamara, 21, a senior at Eastern, died of asphyxiation. She
had marks on her neck and bruises on her body that were signs of a
struggle, Coroner Michael Nichols said.
It was the second murder of a Chicago-area student at the Downstate
school in three years.
McNamara was planning to graduate next spring with a degree in
physical education and a teaching certificate. She lived two blocks
from the 320-acre campus in a basement apartment with two roommates.
One of those roommates discovered McNamara's body early Tuesday.
Authorities believe she was killed between 1:30 and 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Although they revealed few details, Charleston police said they were
following a strong lead along with a few others.
"We have one substantial lead," Chief Ted Ghibellini said. "There is
no evidence at this point that we have anything but an isolated
incident."
Nichols said he was awaiting lab tests to determine whether the woman
had been sexually assaulted.
In a statement released by Eastern Wednesday night, Bob and Cindy
McNamara, Shannon's parents, said: "Shannon touched many, many lives.
She loved life ... Her life was too short-lived."
McNamara transferred to the university in 1999 after studying physical
education for two years at Harper College. At the Palatine community
college, she stood out in track and field and was an All-American two
years in a row.
At Rolling Meadows High School, coaches remembered McNamara as an
athlete with a sunny personality who excelled in gymnastics and track
and field. She set school records in the 100-meter dash and long jump,
but gymnastics coach Alan Galatte remembered her best for her will and
enthusiasm. In her senior year after successfully landing a
particularly troubling vault, she jumped into Galatte's arms, nearly
toppling him, he said.
"She was someone you wanted your daughter to grow up and be like," he
said. "She did everything right. She walked into the room with a great
smile and made everyone feel good."
And she often visited her former coaches when she returned for her
brother's baseball and football games at the school and for his
graduation on June 3.
Bruce Pemberton, who went to Rolling Meadows High School with
McNamara, said she was a well-liked student with many friends.
On Wednesday, neighbors and friends placed flowers on the front lawn
of her parents' Rolling Meadows home.
A note strung around a tree trunk said: "Dear sweet Shannon, our world
has lost a truly sweet and kind-hearted young lady. We will miss you."
In Charleston, McNamara had recently started a job bartending at
Marty's On Campus, a bar and restaurant that caters to the student
crowd, owner Dave Kinnaird said.
McNamara had only worked one or two shifts since starting last week,
Kinnaird said.
The murder rattled students and residents of the town of 20,000, about
75 miles east of Springfield. Large white fliers were posted on doors
throughout the campus Wednesday, informing students of the murder and
warning them to take precautions.
Erica Whitney, a senior education major, blamed authorities for the
heightened fears because they are releasing so little information
about McNamara's death.
"They've done a pretty good job of scaring people," Whitney said. "I
never thought that this was a dangerous town, but when something like
this happens it makes you think."
Whitney said she had a class with McNamara two years ago and that she
often saw McNamara, who was in the Alpha Phi sorority.
"She was always friendly," Whitney said. "I don't think I ever saw her
in a bad mood."
University officials Wednesday had counseled more than 20 of
McNamara's friends. The university had also issued extra patrol around
campus.
In 1998, Andrea Will of Batavia, also a student at the school, was
strangled with a telephone cord by her boyfriend, who was convicted of
her murder.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/metro/lake/article/0,2669,1-0106140348,00.html
--
Anne Warfield
indigoace at goodsol period com
http://www.goodsol.com/cats/
Nancy Rudins
affiliate station), there has been an arrest made. So far the
suspect has not been charged with murder, just with home invasion.
Kind regards,
Nancy
--
unix: panic[cpu0]/thread=4003fe60: Out of Coffee!
Nancy Rudins nru...@ncsa.uiuc.edu
http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/People/nrudins/
Anne Warfield
wrote:
>Thanks for posting this. According to WCIA News (Champaign CBS
>affiliate station), there has been an arrest made. So far the
>suspect has not been charged with murder, just with home invasion.
>
>Kind regards,
>Nancy
Thanks, Nancy! Here's what the Chicago Tribune has--
Neighbor charged in college co-ed's slaying
By Joe Biesk and Noreen Ahmed-Ullah
Tribune staff reporters
June 14, 2001
CHARLESTON, Ill. -- A 25-year-old neighbor and fellow student of
murdered co-ed Shannon McNamara has been arrested and charged in
connection with her death, authorities here announced today.
Anthony Mertz, 25, a junior at Eastern Illinois University who lived
across the street from McNamara, was taken into custody at 2 a.m.
Wednesday and initially charged with home invasion, prosecutors and
police said during a news conference this afternoon at the Coles
County state's attorney's office.
Mertz was hit with the additional charge of first-degree murder today,
authorities said. They would not disclose a motive for the slaying,
nor detail their investigation except to say they found a credit card
with Mertz' name on it in the victim's apartment.
Police said they had canvassed the neighborhood and interviewed Mertz
twice before arresting him. He is being held without bond in Coles
County Jail, Charleston. McNamara, 21, a former track-and-field star
from Rolling Meadows, was found choked to death Tuesday in an
off-campus basement apartment that she shared with two roommates a
couple of blocks from the EIU campus.
A senior, she had planned to graduate next spring with a degree in
physical education and a teaching certificate. Authorities said they
believe McNamara was killed between 1:30 and 8 a.m. Tuesday.
McNamara transferred to the university in 1999 after studying physical
education for two years at Harper College. At the Palatine community
college, she stood out in track and field and was an All-American two
years in a row.
A graduate of Rolling Meadows High School, McNamara excelled in
gymnastics and track and field, and set school records in the
100-meter dash and long jump.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/metro/chicago/article/0,2669,ART-52448,FF.html
Anne Warfield
EIU student held in woman's killing
By Joe Biesk and Noreen Ahmed-Ullah, Tribune staff reporters. Tribune
staff reporter Mickey Ciokajlo contributed to...
June 15, 2001
CHARLESTON, Ill. -- An Eastern Illinois University student was charged
Thursday in the slaying of Shannon McNamara, the student from Rolling
Meadows who was choked to death this week here.
Charleston police said Anthony Mertz, 25, who lived across the street
from McNamara, cut a window screen and entered her off-campus garden
apartment early Tuesday.
They believe Mertz attacked McNamara in her bedroom. In the struggle
that followed, a table was overturned and a lamp was broken before
Mertz subdued McNamara in the living room, police said. Her body was
discovered slashed and bitten, according to court records, and tests
are under way to determine if she was sexually assaulted.
Police said they did not know if Mertz and McNamara knew each other.
He worked as a custodian in the building where McNamara worked part
time at the EIU recreation center.
Mertz was arrested early Wednesday and charged with home invasion. He
was charged with murder Thursday and held without bail.
The announcement Thursday afternoon ended two days of uncertainty
after the slaying.
McNamara, 21, was a popular student and track-and-field star at
Rolling Meadows High School and Harper College in Palatine before she
transferred to EIU to complete her degree in physical education.
Mertz was a history student at the university, after four years as a
rifleman in the Marines, from 1994 to 1998. He grew up in Rossville, a
village of 1,200 in Downstate Vermilion County.
Mertz's family Thursday refused to believe he killed McNamara.
"I don't know what's going on, but I know that Tony didn't do it,"
said his stepmother, Mary. "He doesn't even like to kill flies. ...
Even when he caught fish, he would put them back."
Mertz has had previous brushes with the law, including convictions for
drunken driving, battery and obscene conduct. Less than two months ago
he was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Authorities would not say if they think Mertz had been stalking
McNamara. But officials said in an affidavit filed at the Coles County
Courthouse that Mertz was identified by another resident of McNamara's
building as the man who tried to break into a fourth-floor apartment
June 3.
Authorities said they found Mertz's credit card in the hallway of
McNamara's apartment. They also reported finding a knife they believe
was used in the attack.
McNamara's partially clad body was found by her roommate shortly
before 9 a.m. Tuesday. An autopsy by the Coles County coroner's office
Wednesday determined she had died of asphyxiation.
According to court records, Mertz told police he had been partying
most of the night. He attributed bruises and scratches to a mishap
with a shot glass.
In Rossville, the charges stunned friends and acquaintances.
Cathy Douglass, who said she has known Mertz since he was a child,
said his mom left when he was young and he was close to his
grandmother. Whenever he came home from college, he would attend the
United Methodist Church of Rossville.
"It doesn't fit," Rev. Sherry Foote said. "It's shocking to me that he
would even be a suspect."
Mertz was a linebacker and offensive lineman on the Rossville-Alvin
High School football team. After high school he joined the Marines and
served in Okinawa, his sister Brandy said.
Meanwhile, McNamara's friends gathered in Charleston to remember her.
Some attended the news conference at which the arrest was announced.
"She was a living angel," said Keith Laski of Lisle, a pitcher and
outfielder on EIU's baseball team who had dated McNamara since April.
"A perfect friend and girlfriend."
McNamara, who would have turned 22 next week, planned to graduate next
spring.
http://chicagotribune.com/news/local/article/0,1051,SAV-0106150311,00.html