Swami, there is something terribly wrong in the Lake County courts system. The Willding murder case went on four nearly four years without a trial. What’s the problem? Fouled up in Fox Lake
Dear Fouled, yes something is amiss.
In Lake County courts, the trick is not merely to string out a trial, but for defense attorneys – with the acquiescence of prosecutors and trial judges - to postpone a trial almost ad infinitum.
The case of the slaying of teenager Elizabeth Willding is a case in point. It occurred in July 2004 and had just now reached some finality
.
The defendant, a scurrilously murderous little punk named Adam Christenson, apparently will be sentenced in March.
There is nothing we know about the case now that wasn’t known for at least three years. Mostly what has happened is a clever manipulation of the system.
At long last, the defense team has accepted an “Alford Plea”, a truly odious parliamentary maneuver that allows the defense to acknowledge the evidence, were it brought to trial, likely would produce a guilty verdict. In exchange, the prosecution gets to act as if it’s a guilty verdict.
So the punk gets a long sentence, though he gets to avoid a true life sentence, or a death sentence which he so richly deserves.
And, as sometimes seems the highest goal of the courts in Lake County, everybody gets to avoid the hard work of a tough trial.
If you think that getting any sentence is preferable to a tough trial, consider the words of Liz Willding’s mother, for whom the ordeal likely never will be over.
“Hello, it's GIGO Willding.
Elizabeth Willding who was stabbed to death on July 14, 2004 forty three times. We were supposed to be in court on Monday Feb. 4 for the trial.
Instead we stayed all day because (defense attorney Keith) Grant finally after almost 4 years plea-bargained. Mind you, not one psychiatrist ever found him insane.
The plea was and Alford Plea which means he will never admit he killed my daughter, but if he had gone to trial he believes because of the state's overwhelming evidence he would be found guilty.
Also he had to have stated in the plea he had mental illness. I had it dropped on me like a bomb. No one and I mean no one expected this. I had about five minutes at most to decide what I would like to do. I had told my family not to come that day because it would either be jury selection or Grant getting another continuance. I wasn't thinking right and talked to my ex- husband that said do it we have to do it. Mind you through almost four years he has been in court about five times. I have been in court over 50 times. He wasn't even going to the trial. He really didn't want to know anything about what happened to our daughter. He did say he would go if our two daughters needed him ….So I agreed. After leaving the courthouse and having some time to think. I was very angry.
Christensen has been a person who has slid through life, doing illegal things and getting away with it. And he succeeded in doing it again. The newspaper articles almost made him out to be the victim. The one headline in the Trib…Ingleside
Man guilty in 2004 stabbing death of neighbor girl
Girl confronted him during 2nd break-in
Our justice system didn't work again. And in my opinion, I blame Grant, the defense attorney who made motion after motion to continue. In my opinion his arrogance and lack of respect for Judge Booras was totally not acceptable. It seemed as if it were a game to him. This plea could have been done at least two years ago.
My family and I have not found any peace during this ordeal. We would be prepared to go to trial and Grant would find some reason for continuance.
I believe there have been at least 10 trial dates set and God knows how many pre-trial and status dates.
I only hope that Judge Booras with the help of the pre sentencing investigation report can finally bring true justice for my Liz, myself, and two daughters our family and friends and most of all to our community and society in general. I am not sure if this is true.
It is second hand but Christenson is suppose to be collecting SS disability all of this time. Is there something wrong with that picture. My experience through this ordeal has been victim 0 rights accused never ending rights.
The evidence that the prosecution had was hard pure facts that could not be disputed. Grant tried every trick in the book until there were none left. I have not left the house all week trying to sort out my emotions. I find that I am experiencing reliving my daughter's murder as if it happened yesterday. The vision of finding her laying there stabbed 23 times is a recurring picture in my mind. I have not idea what or when I will experience them. They just come.
I was getting much better and they weren't happening as often or lasting at long. For the last two months thinking about the trial, that vision is constantly in my head awake and asleep.
On July 14, 2004, part of me died with my daughter.
To all the parents out there who have lost their child I pray for peace and God's love to watch over you. For those of you who haven't experienced it I pray every night that you will be spared the unexplainable pain,sorrow and grief that can't even be described by words. May God Bless You and Yours and keep you safe.
Gigi Willding
I am a good friend of Liz's Aunt Kris. I keep in touch, and have been following this case as well. My feelings can not be put into words on how DISAPPOINTED I AM WITH THIS OUT COME!!!! I have watched my friend Kris suffer something awful over this, and I know it has had the same affect on Liz's mother, sisters, grandparents, and all of Liz's extended family, and her friends. My prayers are with all of you, and I feel that there is something SERIOUSLY WRONG HERE WITH THIS ""ALFORD PLEA"". For four years this went on, and for WHY??? This family needs closure, and GIGI should be able to have atleast her final words to this monster named Adam. I hope she will be able to do that, but since there isn't going to be a trial, I don't know if she will be able to do that at the sentencing. It also sounds as if he isn't getting a life sentence. Which AGAIN, why??? Does this also mean he will be eligible for parole?? If that's the case, GOD HELP US!!!!!!!! No one will EVER be able to see Liz again, but Adam's family can go visit him!!! This is so NOT RIGHT in my opinion!!! My final thought is this .... I don't think "GARBAGE" can be rehabilitated or stored indefinately... I BELEIVE GARBAGE SHOULD BE INCINERATED!!!! MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS CONTINUE TO BE WITH THE WILDING FAMILY. DB.
Hi Diane
Your friend seems to be having a hard time with all of this. It is truly sad. I am not sure she and her family are going to counseling. If they are not please advise them to seek a counselor to help with their grief. One way you could advise your friend is to talk to whomever is handling the case to get the answers to the questions and confusion she has. From what I read here she and her family have suffered a lot as a result of this crime. Please, advise her to seek counseling. There is help out there. Good luck.
Hi this is Gigi Liz Willding's Mom. I would like to clear up a possible misunderstanding. In no way do I blame the procecution or Judge Booras for how long this whole ordeal with my daughter's murder has gone on. A very large part is the way Illinois Laws are written. The prosecution has done everything in there power to keep us informed. Mike Mermel has time and time again tried to get this over with. Our victim advocate has always informed us of what was going on even if it was a little thing In my opinion the Illinois statues and the defense attorney Keith Grant took advantage of the laws and motioned for continuous after continuous delays because the Illinois laws allows him to do so. The problem isn't in Lake County the problem is in the state of Illinois. In my opinion, Keith Grant the defense attorney took advantage of this. He is a very arrogant individual. I have seen him show disrespect to the Jugde and sarcasim at the State's attorney. The plea bargain wasn't offered by the State. Grant knew he was beat and would lose at a trial. Again I repeat in my opinion, Keith Grant is a disgrace to the Public Defender's office. He had one professional witness, who when questioned by the prosecution couldn't answer all the questions. She said she didn't have her records with her. She didn't like to make copies. She saved trees. That whole part of the trial in my opinion was a dishonor to my daughter.Elizabeth had so much to contribute to the world. That whole questioning was a joke. If it wasnt so sad, I would have laughed. Six stars to Waller, Murmel,and the whole State's attorneys office for how they run their office and trials.
and treat their victims. Gigi
Gigi--They can never really win. Because Liz will never be forgotten. Whats his name will. But Liz was loved, loved loved loved loved. She touched so many people in a wonderful way. She made people happy. That will never go away. Never.