Suspect Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Indian Head Park Girl
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (CBS) -- A South Side man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the grisly murder of 14-year-old Kelli O'Loughlin during a burglary of her family's home in southwest suburban Indian Head Park.
John Wilson Jr., 38, pleaded not guilty at a hearing in the Bridgeview Courthouse.
Wilson, whose last known address was in the 7900 block of South Lafayette Avenue, is charged with first-degree murder and residential burglary. He is being held without bond.
Wilson had been spotted near the O'Laughlins' house by three witnesses between 2:45 and 3:30 p.m. that day. Kelli had gotten off the bus from school at 3:40 p.m. and entered the house, only to be confronted by Wilson, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said last month.
Wilson stabbed Kelli when she walked in the front door and dragged her from the family room to the kitchen, Assistant State's Attorney Peter Troy said at the suspect's bond hearing. The teen was pronounced dead at LaGrange Memorial Hospital in LaGrange soon afterward, Alvarez said last month. Authorities say she had been stabbed several times in the neck, chest and the back.
Wilson allegedly used a butcher knife that had been on a butcher block in the kitchen. The Chicago Cutlery carving knife with a blade length of 8 inches found next to pool of blood, authorities said.
The house was ransacked, and Wilson took a bowl filled with various types of foreign coins, Alvarez said. He also took Kelli's cell phone and an iPod touch, Alvarez said. In the hours after the murder, Wilson sent Kelli's mother text messages of "a taunting and disturbing nature" from Kelli's cell phone, she said.
Prosecutors say Wilson has spent only three years out of jail since 1991. In that time, he has racked up five prior convictions, including drug dealing, burglary and armed robbery.
Law enforcement records show Wilson has also gone by numerous aliases.
He is next due in court on Jan. 3.
