Reported confession in Buffalo Grove double homicides

[EnEss]

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a 45-year-old house cleaner employed
by the Harris family of Buffalo Grove is in police custody and confessed on
videotape to the murders of Ivon Harris and his daughter, Sarah.

Ivon Harris was the pastor of a Lutheran church in Chicago. Sarah, 25,
recently graduated from Bradley University in Peoria and had accepted a
position teaching 5th grade in a suburban school and was scheduled to begin
her job in the fall. The 2 were found bound, gagged and brutally beaten in
their burning home in late June by local firefighters called to the scene by
Mrs. Harris who came home to discover the house on fire. Both were dead and
cause of death was determined to be smoke inhalation, indicating both father
and daughter were alive as the hosue burned.

The story says police will release some kind of statement or announcement
later today. Here's the report:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-murd21.html

Confession in slaying of dad, daughter

July 21, 2005

BY LISA DONOVAN AND DAN Rozek Staff Reporters

A 45-year-old housecleaner questioned late Wednesday allegedly confessed to
the murders of a Lutheran minister and his daughter in their northwest
suburban Buffalo Grove home last month.

The man was being held at the Buffalo Grove police station, and at least one
source said the man admitted to the slayings and could be charged as early
as today.

Another police source described the evidence against the suspect as
"overwhelming" in the killings of Ivon Harris, 65, and his daughter Sarah
Harris, 24.

This apparently was a case of a burglary gone bad, a source close to the
investigation said. The daughter reportedly caught the man stealing inside
the home, confronted him, and he went after her, tying her up and beating
her. About that time, the woman's father walked in and he, too, was bound
and beaten. The house was then set ablaze, the source said.

Bloody fingerprint a match

A break in the case came in recent days when an initial fingerprint found
inside a rubber glove tossed inside a garbage bag at the house matched a
bloody fingerprint at the crime scene, an investigator said. The blood
belonged to one of the victims, the source says, but the fingerprint,
allegedly, is the suspect's.

"They weren't sure he was involved; you have a cleaning glove, and he was
the cleaning guy," the investigator said.

Once investigators had a match on the bloody fingerprint, authorities
executed a search warrant and seized evidence in the case.

Bodies were found in fire

The source said the suspect may be the first to be interrogated in front of
a video camera in the wake of a new Illinois law requiring videotaping of
police questioning of murder suspects.

Buffalo Grove police and members of its task force were not available for
official comment Wednesday night.

On June 29, Ivon Harris and Sarah Harris were found in their fire-damaged
home. Autopsies revealed they died from blunt trauma, smoke inhalation and
carbon monoxide poisoning. Sarah Harris also had been stabbed.

Harris was a popular minister who led the congregation at Trinity Slovak
Lutheran Church on Chicago's Northwest Side.

Sarah Harris had recently graduated from Bradley University with a degree in
elementary education.

[EnEss]

"EnEss" wrote:
> The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a 45-year-old house cleaner
> employed by the Harris family of Buffalo Grove is in police custody and
> confessed on videotape to the murders of Ivon Harris and his daughter,
> Sarah.

<snip>

Here are some more details from the Chicago area NBC affiliate website:

http://www.nbc5.com/news/4751098/detail.html?z=dp&dpswid=2265994&dppid=65192Housekeeper Charged In Slaying Of Minister, DaughterDefendant Interrupted By Victims While Burglarizing HomePOSTED: 6:09 am CDT July 21, 2005UPDATED: 11:32 am CDT July 21, 2005BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. -- Buffalo Grove police charged a man Thursday inconnection with the murders of a Lutheran minister and his daughter, killedin their home in late June.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Russell H. Sedelmaier, 44, of Chicago, was charged with two counts offirst-degree murder, one count aggravated arson and one count of homeinvasion, according to Buffalo Grove Police Cmdr. Steven Husak.The bodies of the Rev. Ivon Porter Harris, 65, and his daughter, SarahElisabeth Harris, 24 were found June 29 as firefighters put out flames intheir home, at 883 Saxon Pl. in Buffalo Grove.An autopsy determined that both had died from beatings and carbon monoxideintoxication from the smoke.Harris' wife, the Rev. Eileen Harris, saw the fire when she returned homearound 8 p.m. and made a 911 call, Buffalo Grove Police Cmdr. Steve Husaksaid.Sedelmaier had worked for about five or six years cleaning the Harrisfamily's home, Husak said. He said there was no relationship between thedefendant and the family other than a professional one.Husak said that on the day of the slayings Sedelmaier went to burglarize theHarris home, but Elisabeth Harris returned home and interrupted the theft.The defendant overpowered the woman and bound her with duct tape, Husaksaid. He said she suffered blunt force trauma, but he could not say whethera weapon was used.Some time later, Ivon Porter Harris arrived home and Sedelmaier attackedhim, Husak said. The defendant was able to overpower the reverend and bindhim with duct tape as well, Husak said.During the struggle, Ivon Porter Harris also suffered blunt force trauma,Husak said.After both victims were bound, Sedelmaier set the fire to cover up thecrime, Husak said. He fled with an undisclosed amount of money taken fromthe home.Husak said police interviewed the defendant shortly after the slayings, butdid not detain him. He was brought in for a second round of interviewsearlier this week and was taken into custody Monday, Husak said.Husak said Sedelmaier gave investigators a videotaped statement admittinghis role in the killings.Police officers first on the scene could not enter the home because of thethick smoke pouring from the home, a Buffalo Grove police release said atthe time.Sarah Harris was found on the first floor in a family room adjacent to thekitchen, and her father was discovered in the basement, Husak said.The Rev. Ivon Harris served as a minister at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5106N. La Crosse Av., in Chicago, according to a secretary at the church.He was born in Irvington, N.J., and was ordained in Easton, Pa., in May1968, according to a death notice from the Nelson Funeral Home in ParkRidge. He learned the Slovak language to help him in his ministry and was aHam radio operator.Sarah Harris, born in Birmingham, N.Y., was a graduate of Wheeling HighSchool, her death notice stated.She graduated magna cum laude from Bradley University in Peoria last yearwith a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and was a memberof Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.She was about to assume a full-time teaching position at Ivy School inBuffalo Grove, the death notice said.Harris' wife, also a reverend, was an in-house chaplain at St. MatthewCenter for Health, a nursing and rehabilitation home in Park Ridge,according to John Brooks, communications director for the EvangelicalLutheran Church of America.The Harrises also had a son, Nathan, in his late 20s, Trinity Lutheranpresident Steve Fusek saidThe family moved to Buffalo Grove from Pennsylvania, according to aneighbor, Sandra Zakrzewski.The autopsy also determined that in addition to carbon monoxide intoxicationdue to smoke and soot from the fire, the two also died from multiple sharpand blunt force trauma, a Cook County medical examiner's office spokeswomansaid.Russell H. Sedelmaier, 44, of Chicago, was charged with two counts offirst-degree murder, one count aggravated arson and one count of homeinvasion, according to Buffalo Grove Police Cmdr. Steven Husak.Husak said Sedelmaier had a history of "criminal larceny," but he would notelaborate.Cook County court records show no felony convictions for Sedelmaier.The Lake County Major Crimes Task Force collected more than 300 pieces ofevidence during the investigation of the Harris murders, includingfingerprint evidence in the home, Husak said.Husak would not comment when asked whether the fingerprint evidence led toSedelmaier's arrest.In all, detectives followed up on more than 200 leads in the investigation,Husak said. He said there were no other suspects.Police were scheduled to bring Sedelmaier to the Rolling Meadows courthouseat 12:15 p.m., Husak said. He said further information about the slayingswould be revealed at the bond hearing.

[EnEss]

> "EnEss" wrote:
>> The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a 45-year-old house cleaner
>> employed by the Harris family of Buffalo Grove is in police custody and
>> confessed on videotape to the murders of Ivon Harris and his daughter,
>> Sarah.
> <snip>

Here are some more details from the Chicago area NBC affiliate website:

http://www.nbc5.com/news/4751098/detail.htmlz=dp&dpswid=2265994&dppid=65192HousekeeperCharged In Slaying Of Minister, DaughterDefendant Interrupted By VictimsWhile Burglarizing HomePOSTED: 6:09 am CDT July 21, 2005UPDATED: 11:32 amCDT July 21, 2005BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. -- Buffalo Grove police charged a man Thursdayinconnection with the murders of a Lutheran minister and his daughter,killedin their home in late June.Russell H. Sedelmaier, 44, of Chicago, was charged with two countsoffirst-degree murder, one count aggravated arson and one count ofhomeinvasion, according to Buffalo Grove Police Cmdr. Steven Husak.Thebodies of the Rev. Ivon Porter Harris, 65, and his daughter, Sarah ElisabethHarris, 24 were found June 29 as firefighters put out flames intheir home,at 883 Saxon Pl. in Buffalo Grove.An autopsy determined that both had diedfrom beatings and carbon monoxide intoxication from the smoke. Harris' wife,the Rev. Eileen Harris, saw the fire when she returned home around 8 p.m.and made a 911 call, Buffalo Grove Police Cmdr. Steve Husak said. Sedelmaierhad worked for about five or six years cleaning the Harrisfamily's home,Husak said. He said there was no relationship between thedefendant and thefamily other than a professional one.Husak said that on the day of the slayings Sedelmaier went to burglarizetheHarris home, but Sarah Harris returned home and interrupted the theft.The defendant overpowered the woman and bound her with duct tape, Husaksaid. He said she suffered blunt force trauma, but he could not say whethera weapon was used. Some time later, Ivon Porter Harris arrived home andSedelmaier attacked him, Husak said. The defendant was able to overpower thereverend and bind him with duct tape as well, Husak said. During thestruggle, Ivon Porter Harris also suffered blunt force trauma, Husak said.After both victims were bound, Sedelmaier set the fire to cover up thecrime, Husak said. He fled with an undisclosed amount of money taken fromthehome. Husak said police interviewed the defendant shortly after theslayings, but did not detain him. He was brought in for a second round ofinterviews earlier this week and was taken into custody Monday, Husak said.Husak said Sedelmaier gave investigators a videotaped statement admittinghis role in the killings.Police officers first on the scene could not enterthe home because of the thick smoke pouring from the home, a Buffalo Grovepolice release said at the time.Sarah Harris was found on the first floor ina family room adjacent to thekitchen, and her father was discovered in thebasement, Husak said. The Rev. Ivon Harris served as a minister at TrinityLutheran Church, 5106N. La Crosse Av., in Chicago, according to a secretaryat the church.He was born in Irvington, N.J., and was ordained in Easton,Pa., in May1968, according to a death notice from the Nelson Funeral Home inParkRidge. He learned the Slovak language to help him in his ministry andwas a Ham radio operator.Sarah Harris, born in Birmingham, N.Y., was a graduate of WheelingHighSchool, her death notice stated.She graduated magna cum laude fromBradley University in Peoria last year with a Bachelor of Science degree inelementary education and was a memberof Phi Eta Sigma National HonorSociety. She was about to assume a full-time teaching position at Ivy Schoolin Buffalo Grove, the death notice said. Harris' wife, also a reverend, isan in-house chaplain at St. MatthewCenter for Health, a nursing andrehabilitation home in Park Ridge,according to John Brooks, communicationsdirector for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.The Harrises alsohad a son, Nathan, in his late 20s, Trinity Lutheran president Steve Fuseksaid the family moved to Buffalo Grove from Pennsylvania, according toaneighbor, Sandra Zakrzewski.The autopsy also determined that in addition to carbon monoxideintoxicationdue to smoke and soot from the fire, the two also died frommultiple sharp and blunt force trauma, a Cook County medical examiner'soffice spokeswoman said.Russell H. Sedelmaier, 44, of Chicago, was charged with two countsoffirst-degree murder, one count aggravated arson and one count of homeinvasion, according to Buffalo Grove Police Cmdr. Steven Husak. Husak saidSedelmaier had a history of "criminal larceny," but he would not elaborate.Cook County court records show no felony convictions for Sedelmaier. TheLake County Major Crimes Task Force collected more than 300 piecesofevidence during the investigation of the Harris murders, includingfingerprint evidence in the home, Husak said. Husak would not comment whenasked whether the fingerprint evidence led toSedelmaier's arrest. In all,detectives followed up on more than 200 leads in the investigation, Husaksaid.He said there were no other suspects.Police were scheduled to bringSedelmaier to the Rolling Meadows courthouseat 12:15 p.m., Husak said. Hesaid further information about the slayingswould be revealed at the bondhearing.