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VOL. 14 • NO. 23
WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Villa Park man who murdered Elmhurst woman likely to be released State’s Attorney attempts to deny release via SVP Commitment Act
By Dee Longfellow
gists found Kokoraleis does not meet the necessary criteria, we are unable It was easy to sense the disappoint- to ethically bring a petition to find ment felt by DuPage County State’s that he is sexually violent under IlAttorney Robert Berlin when he re- linois law.” leased a statement regarding Thomas Kokoraleis, a person convicted Background on the case in 1982 for the murder of Elmhurst Thomas’ brother Andrew Kokoraresident Lorraine “Lorry” Borowski. leis was convicted of the murders of Kokoraleis, a former resident of Vil- Lorraine “Lorry” Borowski and Rose la Park, is likely to be released from Davis, was sentenced to death back prison soon. in 1982 and was executed in 1999. Berlin’s office previously reported Edward Spreitzer, another member of it was attempting to keep Kokoraleis, the Ripper Crew gang, was convicted a member of a notorious gang known of the murders of Linda Sutton, Shui as the Ripper Crew believed to be re- Mak, Rose Davis, Sandra Delaware sponsible for several murders in the and Raphael Tiradao about that time 1980s, in custody through the Sexual and is currently serving a natural life Violet Persons (SVP) Commitment prison sentence with no possibility Act. The Act would allow the state to of parole. Spreitzer was originally keep Kokoraleis behind bars ‘if prov- given a death sentence that was comen beyond a reasonable doubt that the muted when then-Governor George person suffers from a mental disorder Ryan commuted all death sentences that makes the person dangerous’ and in Illinois. Robin Gecht was conthat it is “substantially probable” that victed of the attempted murder, rape, the person will commit another act or aggravated kidnapping and deviate acts of sexual violence. sexual assault of a woman and is not Last week, Berlin released the fol- eligible for parole until 2042. lowing statement: Thomas Kokoraleis was convicted “My office, along with the Illi- of the 1982 murder of Lorraine “Lornois Attorney General’s Office, has ry” Borowski based on an accountworked closely with experts to de- ability theory, which means that he termine whether it is legally possible was held accountable for the acts for the State to prove to a court that committed by other individuals – AnKokoraleis meets the requirements to drew Kokoraleis and Edward Spreitbe found a sexually violent person in zer – that resulted in Ms. Borowski’s order to be civilly committed after he death. Kokoraleis admitted to partichas served his criminal sentence,” the ipating in Ms. Borowski’s abduction. statement read. “The Sexually Vio- While he denied he was involved lent Persons (SVP) Commitment Act in her rape and murder, Kokoraleis requires proof beyond a reasonable admitted he was present while Andoubt that a person suffers from a drew Kokoraleis and Spreitzer raped mental disorder, and that mental dis- and murdered Ms. Borowski. He order makes him dangerous such that was sentenced to 70 years in prison. it is substantially probable the person Based on Illinois laws in effect at will commit acts of sexual violence. the time he was sentenced in 1986, “After evaluations by highly expe- Kokoraleis served 50 percent of his rienced psychiatrists and psycholo- sentence and was scheduled to enter FOR THE BENSENVILLE INDEPENDENT
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mandatory supervised release in September of 2017. According to Berlin’s office, the SVP Commitment Act authorizes the State to file a petition for civil commitment after a person has completed his criminal sentence if the individual meets specific criteria. To establish that criteria, the State must present testimony from qualified forensic
psychiatrists or clinical psychologists. In evaluating the individual for a mental disorder, the law requires the experts to rely on evidence of acts of sexual violence that the individual himself committed. This evidence must come from the trial court record or other reliable sources. As previously mentioned, Thomas Kokoraleis did not meet these crite-
ria. Because the criteria for requiring an individual to register as a sex offender is different than the SVP Act requirements, Kokoraleis will be required to register as a sex offender when he is ultimately released from custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. It has not been reported where he will live.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Bensenville Independent
Up on the roof
Third graders from Army Trail Elementary School took a tour of the Addison Public Library on Oct. 18. Their visit included a walk on the roof, peek behind Guest Services, and an up-close look at the library’s 3D Printer.
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