After a jury found him guilty in 2013 of arranging the murders of his ex-girlfriend’s family, Johnny Borizov was sentenced to three consecutive life terms. On Friday, an appellate court upheld the verdict.
The Second District Appellate Court affirmed the conviction of Borizov, 33, a former Willow Springs resident who arranged for the murders of Jeffrey Kramer, 50; his wife, Lori, 48; and their son, Michael, 20, all of Darien, in 2011, according to the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.
“Five years ago, Jacob Nodarse killed Jeffrey, Lori and Michael Kramer in cold blood at the behest of Johnny Borizov. The evidence of Borizov’s guilt and role in these horrific murders was overwhelming and the Appellate Court agreed that he received a fair trial,” state’s attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.
A jury reached the guilty verdicts on May 14, 2013, convicting Borizov of three counts of first-degree murder and one count of solicitation to commit murder following a four-week trial. On July 15, 2013, Judge Daniel Guerin imposed three sentences of natural life in prison without the chance of parole.
The jury found that in February 2010, Borizov “requested and even encouraged” co-defendant Nodarse “to kill members of the Kramer family, specifically Angela, with whom Borizov was in a contentious battle regarding the custody of the couple’s infant son,” a statement from prosecutors said.
Borizov came up with a plan for Nodarse, a Countryside resident, to break into the Kramer home about 3 a.m. on March 2, 2010, and “kill everyone,” prosecutors said. Borizov also arranged to have an alibi for that night.
On March 2, Nodarse broke into the home, killed three members of the family, but Angela Kramer escaped by hiding in a closet.
In September 2011, Nodarse pleaded guilty but mentally ill to one count of first-degree murder and was sentenced to 75 years in prison.
In appealing his conviction, Borizov’s attorney claimed he did not get a fair trial.
The appellate court disagreed, stating: “The State properly presented overwhelming evidence that defendant was legally responsible for Nodarse’s conduct.”
Justice Susan Hutchinson delivered the judgment, with justices Kathryn Zenoff and Donald Hudson concurring.
“I would like to thank the Appellate Court for their extremely thoughtful and thorough review of this case,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the statement.
Jacob Nodarse | Illinois Dept. of Corrections
