Five years after two young girls were murdered in Zion, Lake County prosecutors are rethinking their case in light of new DNA evidence, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. It appears they may have charged the wrong man in the murders of Laura Hobbs and Krystal Tobias.
Keith Grant, an assistant public defender assigned as the Illinois criminal defense attorney for defendant Jerry Hobbs, said DNA taken from 8-year-old victim (and Jerry Hobbs' daughter) Laura Hobbs matches another man:
"Since we developed this profile, we have been confident that it leads to only one conclusion, and that is that our client is innocent."
The other girl murdered in 2005, purportedly by the same individual, was Laura Hobbs' 9-year-old friend Krystal Tobias.
Prosecutors confirmed a "significant development" in the case and provided a few details. Jeff Pavletic, first assistant state's attorney for Lake County, told reporters that general DNA was found on the body of Laura Hobbs and that the man matching the evidence is now in custody.
He said a task force has been mobilized, new witnesses are being interviewed and evidence is being reanalyzed. He did not say where the new suspect was apprehended and declined to answer some of the more pointed questions about the case:
"We are in the infancy of the investigation of this development. I think it would be premature to speculate on the impact this has on the case at this point."
Jeff Pavletic also declined to say whether Jerry Hobbs will be released from jail. He made a confession to the killings at the time but has since recanted.
But the case against Jerry Hobbs was questionable ever since a DNA profile developed a few years ago failed to match him. He had a drinking problem and a long crime record, including instances of violence, which likely led prosecutors to charge him for the murders.
Related Resources:
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DNA as an Exoneration Tool (FindLaw)
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DNA Evidence Frees James Bain after 35 Years (FindLaw's Blotter Blog)
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Contact a Chicago Criminal Attorney (FindLaw)
