30 year old Homewood Murder Solved

[zeldaglutch]

"Hellstrom and Rogers were both students at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. For reasons they will not specify, police believe Rogers met Hellstrom near 183rd Street and Morris Avenue on Jan. 19, 1977, and repeatedly stabbed him."

"After the stabbing, Hellstgrom made it as far as the back steps of the family home. He pounded on the back door before his mother found him lying in the snow."


If this case does not get moved to adult court then Rogers would only have been incarcerated until he was 21 and now he would do no time.

If the case does get moved to adult court he could do a minimum of 14 years.

My Heart goes out to the Hellstrom family. Whatever happens I wish them peace of mind.

[Amy]

Where is Homewood?

I do think that, in most all cases, the perpetrator would presently be tried under whatever rules prevailed at the time of the murder. How old was Rogers at the time? In high school could be anywhere from 14-18 or so years old.

In 1977, I'm not sure there were any states at all that were trying teenagers as adults, especially 14 to 16 years or so.

[zeldaglutch]

Homewood is a southern suburb of Chicago IL. There is no other evidence in this case, so a conviction would be based on Rodgers confession only.

Rodgers was 16 at the time that he murdered 17 y/o Kenny Hellstrom. In Illinois at the time juvenile offenders only did time until age 21 and then the records were sealed. So if Rodgers is tried as a juvenile he walks at the end of the trial. If he is tried as an adult he could get 14 years.

I am glad that they finally know what happened that night.

[packy]

I remember this case and it's good to know it's finally solved. According to the Chicago Tribune they reopened the case and decided that the suspect had not been interviewed properly. It was luck that they were aware he was back in town and were able to pull him over for a traffic violation. That was shen he implicated himself.

Until I read that article I thought maybe his conscience had finally got to him. But it appears that wasn't the case.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703210057mar21,1,3362974.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=3&cset=true

[dallasvic]

It great when a crime is solved. Thank to good police work and science and people that feel that can't give up on a case til its solved.:beer: HERE TO ALL OF THEM . A JOB WELL DONE.:patriot:

[mustang350]

I remember this case and it's good to know it's finally solved. According to the Chicago Tribune they reopened the case and decided that the suspect had not been interviewed properly. It was luck that they were aware he was back in town and were able to pull him over for a traffic violation. That was shen he implicated himself.

Until I read that article I thought maybe his conscience had finally got to him. But it appears that wasn't the case.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703210057mar21,1,3362974.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=3&cset=true

Dear Packy,

For one you can't believe everything that is in the paper. I am one of the sisters and no, he was interviewed properly.... It didn't finally get to him. He was a suspect since day one, but he fled..... You don't know how hard this is on my family.

[packy]

Dear Packy,

For one you can't believe everything that is in the paper. I am one of the sisters and no, he was interviewed properly.... It didn't finally get to him. He was a suspect since day one, but he fled..... You don't know how hard this is on my family.

True enough that we can't believe everything we read in the paper and actually I should know that from experience. I may have more appreciation for how you feel than it would appear. I am so sorry for all who were involved in what happened. I wish I could be of help with more than just words.

[mustang350]

Thank you for understanding, there is more to this then you know, but it cannot be told. I'm just glad that Rodgers said what he said and now I know actually how my brother died and it puts a relief on me because I was only 4 years old at the time.
Thank you for responding to the post.

[mustang350]

Dear Zedlaglutch,

Were all hoping it does get moved to adult court. I know that they will go by what the laws were in 1976. It's just sad that someone could possibly get away with it. Rodgers fled that night after doing this my brother. And was a suspect since I feel in my heart that yes we finally can have some closer, but it would a lot better if they do try him as adult and instead of only getting 14 years he should 30 years to life because that's 30 years my brother could have to his life.
It must be nice for people to still have their life after killing someone.
My family and I thank you for keep us in your heart.