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Vol. 41, No. 20
Mental Health Month
May 20, 2026
Page B1
Lawyer for ‘Starved Rock Killer’ says he was innocent
Multi-family projects multiply as Brookfield balances growth and parking
Three victims, all from Riverside, attended Riverside Presbyterian Church By GREGG VOSS
Two 6-unit buildings are in development alongside some larger-scale projects downtown
Contributing Reporter
There is a commemorative plaque tucked away within the chancel of Riverside Presbyterian Church. It’s a little hard to find, but once you do, it lists the names of the three women to which it was dedicated: Mildred Lindquist, Frances Murphy and Lillian Oetting, all congregation members. In Andy Hale’s mind, the three Riverside women, who were brutally murdered on March 16, 1960 at downstate Starved Rock State Park, were present with him Saturday afternoon. Hale is a Chicago attorney who has spent the last decade on a relentless search for justice in the case against Chester Weger, who was convicted of the murders and paroled in 2019 – but never exonerated. Saturday’s talk about the investigation, the criminal trial and possible new evidence, in the very sanctuary where the three women worshipped, was transcendent for him. See MURDERS on page 6
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
TODD BANNOR
Attorney Andy Hale presents evidence the 1960 Starved Rock murders of three Riverside women wasn’t commited by Chester Weger, the man convicted of the murders.
Multi-unit housing is the name of the game when it comes to Brookfield’s ongoing development projects. Two new proposed six-unit housing developments are in the works at 8911 Burlington Ave. and 3827 Maple Ave., according to Libby Popovic, Brookfield’s director of community development. “One is in the works, and one is in kind of a concept phase,” she told the Landmark. Popovic said the property on Burlington belongs to a private developer while the property on Maple is owned by the village. “8911 is just west of Phil’s [Sports Bar & Grill and] that shopping complex right there on BurlSee DEVELOPMENTS on page 11
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