Chicago Sun-Times - All2021-06-25T05:15:00-05:00https://chicago.suntimes.com/rss/stream/206269392021-06-25T05:15:00-05:002021-06-25T11:08:19-05:00‘Motive’ podcast figure Earl Casteel killed girlfriend in apparent murder-suicide, Chicago police say
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-cf0001" name="image-cf0001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/995c07c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1375x772+0+131/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FCwISbXs22V-XiPoZSc-hq8ybP8U%3D%2F0x0%3A1375x1033%2F1375x1033%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28442x376%3A443x377%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657973%2Fmerlin_68226771.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e74f89d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1375x772+0+131/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FCwISbXs22V-XiPoZSc-hq8ybP8U%3D%2F0x0%3A1375x1033%2F1375x1033%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28442x376%3A443x377%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657973%2Fmerlin_68226771.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d5306a1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1375x772+0+131/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FCwISbXs22V-XiPoZSc-hq8ybP8U%3D%2F0x0%3A1375x1033%2F1375x1033%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28442x376%3A443x377%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657973%2Fmerlin_68226771.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Earl Casteel (standing) was seen in the viral cellphone video from which this image is taken being shot in both legs in 2015 in Irving Park by Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez (seated in the car)." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d5306a1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1375x772+0+131/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FCwISbXs22V-XiPoZSc-hq8ybP8U%3D%2F0x0%3A1375x1033%2F1375x1033%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28442x376%3A443x377%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657973%2Fmerlin_68226771.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cd13b43/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1375x772+0+131/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FCwISbXs22V-XiPoZSc-hq8ybP8U%3D%2F0x0%3A1375x1033%2F1375x1033%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28442x376%3A443x377%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657973%2Fmerlin_68226771.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d5306a1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1375x772+0+131/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FCwISbXs22V-XiPoZSc-hq8ybP8U%3D%2F0x0%3A1375x1033%2F1375x1033%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28442x376%3A443x377%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657973%2Fmerlin_68226771.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Earl Casteel (standing) was seen in the viral cellphone video from which this image is taken being shot in both legs in 2015 in Irving Park by Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez (seated in the car).</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>U.S. District Court trial evidence</p></div></div>
</figure>
<p>A Chicago man whose 2015 shooting was featured in the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20854262/motive-podcast-episode-1-download-listen" target="_blank" >Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ Chicago podcast “Motive”</a> killed his girlfriend and himself at a home on the Northwest Side earlier this month, authorities say.</p><p>Earl Casteel, 39, was found dead at 1:22 a.m. June 11 on a porch in the 4900 block of West Wrightwood Avenue in Belmont Cragin of a gunshot wound to the chest, police said.</p><p>Cecilia Bonilla, his 41-year-old girlfriend and the mother of his <a class="Link" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Cecilias-Kids?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet+chico96c&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer" target="_blank" >children,</a> who was shot in the chest and arms, died at a hospital on June 20.</p><p>Brendan Deenihan, the Chicago Police Department’s chief of detectives, said the deaths appear to be a murder-suicide based on interviews and other evidence, though investigators are awaiting the results of forensic tests, and the Cook County medical examiner’s office hasn’t ruled yet on Casteel’s death.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20854262/motive-podcast-episode-1-download-listen" target="_blank" >‘Motive,’ episode 1: A shooting from a Mercedes</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>The police said they found one of the couple’s sons walking about two blocks away after the shootings. He isn’t believed to have anything to do with the murder-suicide, officials say.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-floatRight>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-5b0001" name="image-variant-5b0001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/38c929e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1016x570+0+362/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fp4ImgOMhozQrR4eX92msJHhmx_M%3D%2F0x0%3A1016x1295%2F1016x1295%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28508x648%3A509x649%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657982%2FScreen_Shot_2021_06_14_at_12.32.13_PM.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e01c8c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1016x570+0+362/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fp4ImgOMhozQrR4eX92msJHhmx_M%3D%2F0x0%3A1016x1295%2F1016x1295%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28508x648%3A509x649%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657982%2FScreen_Shot_2021_06_14_at_12.32.13_PM.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/752761a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1016x570+0+362/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fp4ImgOMhozQrR4eX92msJHhmx_M%3D%2F0x0%3A1016x1295%2F1016x1295%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28508x648%3A509x649%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657982%2FScreen_Shot_2021_06_14_at_12.32.13_PM.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Earl Casteel" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/752761a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1016x570+0+362/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fp4ImgOMhozQrR4eX92msJHhmx_M%3D%2F0x0%3A1016x1295%2F1016x1295%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28508x648%3A509x649%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657982%2FScreen_Shot_2021_06_14_at_12.32.13_PM.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ebf4dc5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1016x570+0+362/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fp4ImgOMhozQrR4eX92msJHhmx_M%3D%2F0x0%3A1016x1295%2F1016x1295%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28508x648%3A509x649%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657982%2FScreen_Shot_2021_06_14_at_12.32.13_PM.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/752761a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1016x570+0+362/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fp4ImgOMhozQrR4eX92msJHhmx_M%3D%2F0x0%3A1016x1295%2F1016x1295%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28508x648%3A509x649%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22657982%2FScreen_Shot_2021_06_14_at_12.32.13_PM.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Earl Casteel</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Chicago police arrest photo</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Casteel’s children were removed from his home last year by state child welfare investigators, who determined that Casteel and other adults were putting the children at risk of abuse and neglect, officials say.</p><p>At the time of his death, Casteel was free on bail while awaiting trial on a 2020 charge of being a felon in possession of a gun and also was awaiting trial in a separate 2020 domestic battery case.</p><p>In 2015, Casteel was shot in the legs by Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez, the Chicago gang leader at the center of the 2019 <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/motive-podcast" target="_blank" >“Motive” podcast,</a> who was driving a convertible Mercedes while a fellow gang member in the car recorded the attack on his cellphone.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/motive-podcast" target="_blank" >‘Motive’ podcast</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a class="Link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGbpV-Rsj6U&ab_channel=ChicagoSun-Times" target="_blank" >The video of the shooting,</a> which went viral, was evidence in the trial that sent Jimenez to federal prison for more than nine years for illegal gun possession. Jimenez is still awaiting trial in Cook County on state charges in Casteel’s shooting.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-5f0002" name="image-variant-5f0002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5016528/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2205x1238+0+657/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJZGzixpdLFH00stO_c1iMGk-P7M%3D%2F0x0%3A2205x2552%2F2205x2552%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281103x1276%3A1104x1277%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728323%2Fmerlin_12691959.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d8b847a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2205x1238+0+657/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJZGzixpdLFH00stO_c1iMGk-P7M%3D%2F0x0%3A2205x2552%2F2205x2552%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281103x1276%3A1104x1277%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728323%2Fmerlin_12691959.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/613dd9b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2205x1238+0+657/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJZGzixpdLFH00stO_c1iMGk-P7M%3D%2F0x0%3A2205x2552%2F2205x2552%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281103x1276%3A1104x1277%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728323%2Fmerlin_12691959.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez celebrates his freedom in 2009 after winning release for a killing he said he didn’t commit." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/613dd9b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2205x1238+0+657/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJZGzixpdLFH00stO_c1iMGk-P7M%3D%2F0x0%3A2205x2552%2F2205x2552%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281103x1276%3A1104x1277%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728323%2Fmerlin_12691959.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ac7662e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2205x1238+0+657/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJZGzixpdLFH00stO_c1iMGk-P7M%3D%2F0x0%3A2205x2552%2F2205x2552%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281103x1276%3A1104x1277%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728323%2Fmerlin_12691959.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/613dd9b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2205x1238+0+657/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJZGzixpdLFH00stO_c1iMGk-P7M%3D%2F0x0%3A2205x2552%2F2205x2552%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281103x1276%3A1104x1277%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728323%2Fmerlin_12691959.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez celebrates his freedom in 2009 after winning release for a killing he said he didn’t commit.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Rich Hein / Sun-Times file</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>In 2019, “Motive” examined the life of Jimenez, who was charged with murder at 13 and released from prison in 2009 after witnesses recanted. Jimenez won $25 million from the city of Chicago in a wrongful-conviction lawsuit, then squandered most of the money he got on his gang, the Simon City Royals, authorities say.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/3/28/18343495/thaddeus-tj-jimenez-multimillionaire-gang-leader-wrongful-conviction-prison-sentence" target="_blank" >Multimillionaire Chicago gang leader gets more than 9 years in prison</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Casteel sued Jimenez over the shooting and in 2016 <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2016/12/10/18351743/thaddeus-tj-jimenez-simon-city-royals-gang-wrongful-convictionl-windfall-shooting-victim-payout" target="_blank" >won a $6 million judgment</a> that Casteel’s lawyer Kevin O’Brien says he still hopes to collect as he tries to seize a west suburban home belonging to the mother of Jimenez’s children.</p><p>Casteel’s death won’t end the lawsuit, according to O’Brien, who said <a class="Link" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Cecilias-Kids?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet+chico96c&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer" target="_blank" >Casteel’s kids</a> are now the beneficiaries.</p><p>“We’re not going to give up the litigation until it’s proven there’s no money there,” he said.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2016/12/10/18351743/thaddeus-tj-jimenez-simon-city-royals-gang-wrongful-convictionl-windfall-shooting-victim-payout" target="_blank" >Gang member loses $6M of wrongful-conviction windfall to shooting victim</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>In a 2018 interview for “Motive,” Casteel described getting shot by Jimenez:</p><p>“And the first thing he said is, ‘You tell me why should I blast you?’ And he pulled a gun out and pointed at me. So I told him, I said, ‘You know, I got, I don’t have a problem with you. You know, what’s your problem? You know, what’s going on exactly?’ Then, he tells me I got to shut up. </p><p>“And then he fired a shot, and the first one hit in my leg, it hit me in my left leg. So I knew I was hit. I didn’t know my leg was broken. And, as he drove off, he fired another shot, and it hit me my right leg.”</p><p>Three years after the shooting, Casteel said, “I still have pain — like there’s only a certain amount of time that I can stand up without it start throbbing and aching, and then I have to sit down. It’s bad.”</p><hr><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-5f0009" name="html-embed-module-5f0009"></a>
<iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.wbez.org/story-embed/aaffe0a1-e64f-45f4-b9de-a47984472046" width="100%" height="100"></iframe>
</div>
</div><p><i>Listen to “Motive” wherever you get your podcasts, including </i><a class="Link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motive/id1479220905" target="_blank" ><i>Apple Podcasts,</i></a><i> </i><a class="Link" href="https://pca.st/bzn1z253" target="_blank" ><i>Pocket Casts,</i></a><i> </i><a class="Link" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5ymaeoUvVnSrT5CWJ04lFk" target="_blank" ><i>Spotify</i></a><i> and </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wbez/motive" target="_blank" ><i>Stitcher</i></a><i>. </i></p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/4/20/22394637/brian-nelson-uptown-peoples-law-center-prisoners-rights-solitary-confinement-chicago-gangs-motive" target="_blank" >After decades in solitary confinement, Brian Nelson got out, became an advocate for prisoners</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/motive-podcast/2021/6/25/22533433/motive-podcast-earl-casteel-murder-suicide-cecilia-bonillaFrank Main2021-03-05T06:00:00-06:002021-03-05T11:23:04-06:00Thaddeus ‘T.J.’ Jimenez, of Sun-Times/WBEZ ‘Motive’ podcast, loses double-jeopardy bid to drop charges in viral cellphone video Earl Casteel shooting
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-fb0001" name="image-fb0001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e7618f5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1366x767+0+130/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fr5Cyi-adlY15DvUFzrivmMylMko%3D%2F0x0%3A1366x1026%2F1366x1026%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28525x449%3A526x450%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728350%2Fmerlin_68226767.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1e6ed43/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1366x767+0+130/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fr5Cyi-adlY15DvUFzrivmMylMko%3D%2F0x0%3A1366x1026%2F1366x1026%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28525x449%3A526x450%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728350%2Fmerlin_68226767.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1971cb6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1366x767+0+130/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fr5Cyi-adlY15DvUFzrivmMylMko%3D%2F0x0%3A1366x1026%2F1366x1026%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28525x449%3A526x450%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728350%2Fmerlin_68226767.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez caught on a cellphone video shooting Earl Casteel in the legs on Aug. 17, 2015, in Irving Park. The video, which went viral, was shown during Jimenez’s trial in federal court." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1971cb6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1366x767+0+130/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fr5Cyi-adlY15DvUFzrivmMylMko%3D%2F0x0%3A1366x1026%2F1366x1026%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28525x449%3A526x450%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728350%2Fmerlin_68226767.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9003312/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1366x767+0+130/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fr5Cyi-adlY15DvUFzrivmMylMko%3D%2F0x0%3A1366x1026%2F1366x1026%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28525x449%3A526x450%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728350%2Fmerlin_68226767.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1971cb6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1366x767+0+130/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fr5Cyi-adlY15DvUFzrivmMylMko%3D%2F0x0%3A1366x1026%2F1366x1026%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28525x449%3A526x450%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19728350%2Fmerlin_68226767.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez was caught on a cellphone video shooting Earl Casteel in the legs on Aug. 17, 2015, in Irving Park. The video, which went viral, was shown during Jimenez’s trial in federal court. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>U.S. District Court</p></div></div>
</figure>
<p>Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez has lost again.</p><p>Jimenez won a fortune from the city of Chicago in a wrongful-conviction lawsuit only to spend it on fast cars and his fellow gang members and end up arrested for a 2015 shooting that was caught on video. Now, he has lost a bid to get the Illinois Appellate Court to throw out the attempted-murder case stemming from that shooting.</p><p>Jimenez was the subject of the Chicago Sun-Times / WBEZ Chicago podcast <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/motive-podcast" target="_blank" >“Motive.”</a> </p><p>It chronicled how he was charged with murder at 13, spent 16 years in prison but was freed in 2009 after a witness admitted he lied when he told the police Jimenez was the killer. Jimenez sued City Hall for wrongful arrest, and a jury awarded him $25 million. He lavished much of that money on his gang, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/4/20/18386300/thaddeus-jimenez-millionaire-gang-fantasy-blew-up-west-side-no-love-money-gang" target="_blank" >the Sun-Times has reported.</a></p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/4/20/18386300/thaddeus-jimenez-millionaire-gang-fantasy-blew-up-west-side-no-love-money-gang" target="_blank" >How millionaire’s gang fantasy ‘blew up the West Side’</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>The new appeals court ruling stems from an August 2015 shooting. Jimenez, driving a convertible Mercedes, is seen in the video stopping and shooting a man named Earl Casteel in the legs on the Northwest Side.</p><p>Jimenez was riding with a fellow Simon City Royals gang member who recorded the shooting on his cellphone. The police recovered the phone after Jimenez crashed while being chased.</p><p>The video was played in federal court at a trial in which Jimenez was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison for illegal possession of the gun used in the shooting. </p><p>He still faces trial in Cook County criminal court on state charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery in the same shooting.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-820002" name="image-variant-820002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b529c39/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIGoKhId_9YdHRSGi0flsxa8jKyk%3D%2F0x0%3A4256x2832%2F4256x2832%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282128x1416%3A2129x1417%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338330%2Fmerlin_13034051.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/302ad04/2147483647/strip/true/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIGoKhId_9YdHRSGi0flsxa8jKyk%3D%2F0x0%3A4256x2832%2F4256x2832%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282128x1416%3A2129x1417%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338330%2Fmerlin_13034051.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1a5f4c5/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIGoKhId_9YdHRSGi0flsxa8jKyk%3D%2F0x0%3A4256x2832%2F4256x2832%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282128x1416%3A2129x1417%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338330%2Fmerlin_13034051.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="In happier times, Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez and his mother Victoria Jimenez on June 3, 2009, after he was awarded a certificate of innocence in the murder case that sent him to prison at 13." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1a5f4c5/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIGoKhId_9YdHRSGi0flsxa8jKyk%3D%2F0x0%3A4256x2832%2F4256x2832%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282128x1416%3A2129x1417%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338330%2Fmerlin_13034051.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4b41027/2147483647/strip/true/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIGoKhId_9YdHRSGi0flsxa8jKyk%3D%2F0x0%3A4256x2832%2F4256x2832%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282128x1416%3A2129x1417%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338330%2Fmerlin_13034051.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1a5f4c5/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIGoKhId_9YdHRSGi0flsxa8jKyk%3D%2F0x0%3A4256x2832%2F4256x2832%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282128x1416%3A2129x1417%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338330%2Fmerlin_13034051.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>In happier times, Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez and his mother Victoria on June 3, 2009. after he was awarded a certificate of innocence in the murder case that sent him to prison at 13.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Brian Jackson / Sun-Times file</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>That case was on hold while Jimenez appealed, arguing that the state charges amounted to double jeopardy — being prosecuted twice for the same crime, which would be unconstitutional. </p><p>But <a class="Link" href="https://courts.illinois.gov/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2020/1stDistrict/1182164.pdf" target="_blank" >the Illinois Appellate Court has decided</a> that the federal weapons charge for which Jimenez was convicted is distinct from the attempted murder and aggravated battery charges and said the case can proceed to trial.</p><p>Now, Jimenez has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to consider his appeal. </p><p>Steve Greenberg, his lawyer, called the appeals court’s ruling “a terrible decision” that “would make the writers of the Constitution roll over in their graves.” </p><p>A Cook County criminal court judge previously dismissed a state charge of illegal gun possession in connection with the 2015 shooting based on the same double-jeopardy argument.</p><p>In a separate civil proceeding, Casteel is asking a Cook County judge to allow him to seize a west suburban home owned by the mother of Jimenez’s two children. That’s to collect a portion of the $6.3 million he won in 2016 in a lawsuit he filed against Jimenez over the shooting. </p><p>Jimenez, who’s being held in the Cook County Jail, still also faces other charges. Those are the result of a brawl inside the jail on Jan. 8, 2020.</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-8a0004" name="module-8a0004"></a>
<div class="RichTextSidebarModule-title">STREAM ‘MOTIVE’ PODCAST</div>
<div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><br>.<br><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-bd0001" name="image-variant-bd0001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/97279c4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+95/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F_gPpJMC1MzccmN9JnF91PvCfv9M%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1200%2F1800x1200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x600%3A901x601%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338351%2FMotive_1800x1200_v1.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/eb0a541/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+95/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F_gPpJMC1MzccmN9JnF91PvCfv9M%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1200%2F1800x1200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x600%3A901x601%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338351%2FMotive_1800x1200_v1.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bb14738/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+95/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F_gPpJMC1MzccmN9JnF91PvCfv9M%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1200%2F1800x1200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x600%3A901x601%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338351%2FMotive_1800x1200_v1.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Motive_1800x1200_v1.png" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bb14738/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+95/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F_gPpJMC1MzccmN9JnF91PvCfv9M%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1200%2F1800x1200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x600%3A901x601%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338351%2FMotive_1800x1200_v1.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d20e937/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+95/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F_gPpJMC1MzccmN9JnF91PvCfv9M%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1200%2F1800x1200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x600%3A901x601%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338351%2FMotive_1800x1200_v1.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bb14738/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+95/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F_gPpJMC1MzccmN9JnF91PvCfv9M%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1200%2F1800x1200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x600%3A901x601%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22338351%2FMotive_1800x1200_v1.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
</figure>
</div>
</div><h3>HEAR THE PODCAST</h3><br>To stream “Motive,” the true-crime podcast hosted by Chicago Sun-Times reporter Frank Main and to read the stories that led to it and see videos, court documents and other material that helped report the story, go to <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/e/20626939" target="_blank" ><i>https://chicago.suntimes.com/e/20626939</i></a><i> </i><br></div>
</div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-8f0002" name="image-variant-8f0002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/67babd9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1048x588+0+94/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fjj0wR1pEX0zboI04cZQCEPySZr8%3D%2F0x0%3A1048x776%2F1048x776%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28524x388%3A525x389%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22347571%2FScreen_Shot_2021_03_05_at_6.25.47_AM.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24a511d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1048x588+0+94/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fjj0wR1pEX0zboI04cZQCEPySZr8%3D%2F0x0%3A1048x776%2F1048x776%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28524x388%3A525x389%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22347571%2FScreen_Shot_2021_03_05_at_6.25.47_AM.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4d89d6d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1048x588+0+94/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fjj0wR1pEX0zboI04cZQCEPySZr8%3D%2F0x0%3A1048x776%2F1048x776%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28524x388%3A525x389%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22347571%2FScreen_Shot_2021_03_05_at_6.25.47_AM.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Read the April 16, 2017, Sun-Times report on how Thaddeus J. “T.J.” Jimenez’s gang fantasy “blew up the West Side.”" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4d89d6d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1048x588+0+94/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fjj0wR1pEX0zboI04cZQCEPySZr8%3D%2F0x0%3A1048x776%2F1048x776%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28524x388%3A525x389%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22347571%2FScreen_Shot_2021_03_05_at_6.25.47_AM.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/14b1ebe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1048x588+0+94/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fjj0wR1pEX0zboI04cZQCEPySZr8%3D%2F0x0%3A1048x776%2F1048x776%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28524x388%3A525x389%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22347571%2FScreen_Shot_2021_03_05_at_6.25.47_AM.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4d89d6d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1048x588+0+94/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fjj0wR1pEX0zboI04cZQCEPySZr8%3D%2F0x0%3A1048x776%2F1048x776%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28524x388%3A525x389%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F22347571%2FScreen_Shot_2021_03_05_at_6.25.47_AM.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/4/20/18386300/thaddeus-jimenez-millionaire-gang-fantasy-blew-up-west-side-no-love-money-gang" target="_blank" >Read the April 16, 2017, Sun-Times report on how Thaddeus J. “T.J.” Jimenez’s gang fantasy “blew up the West Side.”</a></p></figcaption></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/tj-jimenez/2021/3/5/22307251/thaddeus-tj-jimenez-motive-podcast-earl-casteel-double-jeopardy-bid-failsFrank Main2019-11-22T03:30:00-06:002019-11-26T12:59:53-06:00‘Motive’ podcast Ep. 10: Download, listen
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-150002" name="image-150002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a45f2ae/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dcbda48/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbdcbfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="T.J. Jimenez" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbdcbfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc20df5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbdcbfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Cook County sheriff’s office</p></div></div>
</figure>
<p>We’ve reached the end of our story about Thaddeus Jimenez. He was a 13-year-old boy arrested for murder, exonerated after 16 years in prison and awarded millions of dollars.</p><p>With that money, T.J. could’ve done anything. Instead, he built a gang, unleashed chaos, shot a guy on video, and ended up back in jail. </p><p>And the big question is ... why? He’s left us some clues.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-cb0000" name="html-embed-module-cb0000"></a><p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.wbez.org/story-embed/38147484-0a7a-4ac6-9572-ad167d6f7d36" width="100%" height="77"></iframe></p>
</div>
</div><p><i>You can listen to “Motive” wherever you get your podcasts, including </i><a class="Link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motive/id1479220905" target="_blank" ><i>Apple Podcasts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://pca.st/bzn1z253" target="_blank" ><i>Pocket Casts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5ymaeoUvVnSrT5CWJ04lFk" target="_blank" ><i>Spotify</i></a><i>, and </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wbez/motive" target="_blank" ><i>Stitcher</i></a><i>.</i></p><h2>Motive extra features</h2><p>Get a look at the real-life people and places covered in this episode of “Motive.” <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >Meet T.J., his mother Victoria</a> and the family members, friends and lawyers who tell his story.</p><h2>T.J.’s latest jail photo</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-ce0001" name="image-variant-ce0001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a45f2ae/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dcbda48/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbdcbfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="T.J. Jimenez" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbdcbfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc20df5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbdcbfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKbjFidxolXsw3WpjBIFjYl2PikM%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394637%2FT.J._Jimenez_mug.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>T.J. Jimenez</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Cook County sheriff’s office</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Here’s what T.J. looks like now.</p><h2>“Blu Crown Announcement”</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
<div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed>
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19394691/Blu_Crown_Announcement.pdf"></iframe>
</div>
</div></div><p>In 2015, T.J. wrote a manifesto from jail — praising the still-loyal members of his gang crew and condemning those he called imposters. The letter was entered into evidence in his federal trial for illegal possession of the gun that he used to shoot Earl Casteel. T.J. was sentenced to more than nine years in prison in that federal case.</p><h2>Cook County Jail</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-d90001" name="image-variant-d90001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e33cc9f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+94/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFQ-pv8Ke82V4o84G1rdKL3lDNIE%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1198%2F1800x1198%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x599%3A901x600%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394694%2FDivision_9_Cook_County.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6e23748/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+94/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFQ-pv8Ke82V4o84G1rdKL3lDNIE%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1198%2F1800x1198%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x599%3A901x600%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394694%2FDivision_9_Cook_County.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/87f0da9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+94/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFQ-pv8Ke82V4o84G1rdKL3lDNIE%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1198%2F1800x1198%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x599%3A901x600%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394694%2FDivision_9_Cook_County.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="A man who escaped from Cook County Jail May 2, 2020, is in custody, authorities said Monday." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/87f0da9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+94/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFQ-pv8Ke82V4o84G1rdKL3lDNIE%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1198%2F1800x1198%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x599%3A901x600%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394694%2FDivision_9_Cook_County.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4f30567/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+94/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFQ-pv8Ke82V4o84G1rdKL3lDNIE%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1198%2F1800x1198%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x599%3A901x600%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394694%2FDivision_9_Cook_County.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/87f0da9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1800x1010+0+94/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFQ-pv8Ke82V4o84G1rdKL3lDNIE%3D%2F0x0%3A1800x1198%2F1800x1198%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28900x599%3A901x600%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394694%2FDivision_9_Cook_County.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times file photo</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>This is Division 9, a maximum-security facility inside the sprawling Cook County Jail complex on the Southwest Side. It’s where T.J. is currently housed as he awaits trial on attempted murder and aggravated battery charges in state court for shooting Earl. If you stand on the sidewalk outside Division 9, you can see the inmates pacing in the wide, fenced-in galleries in the center of the building.</p><h2>“A Brief Bio”</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-dd0002" name="image-variant-dd0002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d73cb10/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1916x1075+0+63/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FifEpJbiKkFqDtZ3x3u1pY-McwC8%3D%2F0x0%3A1916x1201%2F1916x1201%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28958x601%3A959x602%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394696%2FTJ_in__A_Brief_Bio_.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2f9d64e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1916x1075+0+63/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FifEpJbiKkFqDtZ3x3u1pY-McwC8%3D%2F0x0%3A1916x1201%2F1916x1201%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28958x601%3A959x602%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394696%2FTJ_in__A_Brief_Bio_.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0539004/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1916x1075+0+63/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FifEpJbiKkFqDtZ3x3u1pY-McwC8%3D%2F0x0%3A1916x1201%2F1916x1201%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28958x601%3A959x602%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394696%2FTJ_in__A_Brief_Bio_.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Screen grab from YouTube video featuring T.J." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0539004/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1916x1075+0+63/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FifEpJbiKkFqDtZ3x3u1pY-McwC8%3D%2F0x0%3A1916x1201%2F1916x1201%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28958x601%3A959x602%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394696%2FTJ_in__A_Brief_Bio_.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8701a6a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1916x1075+0+63/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FifEpJbiKkFqDtZ3x3u1pY-McwC8%3D%2F0x0%3A1916x1201%2F1916x1201%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28958x601%3A959x602%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394696%2FTJ_in__A_Brief_Bio_.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0539004/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1916x1075+0+63/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FifEpJbiKkFqDtZ3x3u1pY-McwC8%3D%2F0x0%3A1916x1201%2F1916x1201%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28958x601%3A959x602%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19394696%2FTJ_in__A_Brief_Bio_.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>YouTube</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>This is a still image from T.J.’s six-minute video called “A Brief Bio,” an autobiography of sorts that he produced and uploaded on YouTube. Here he’s loading a handgun. On the streets, T.J. called himself Batman. Note the Batman logo at the top left corner of this screenshot and the name of his gang, the Simon City Royals. In this video, he’s presenting the story of his comic-book alter ego — a gun-toting, gangland antihero.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >‘Motive’ podcast: Who’s who</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/11/22/20974949/motive-podcast-episode-10-download-listenSun-Times2019-11-15T12:05:57-06:002019-11-26T12:59:47-06:00‘Motive’ podcast Episode 9: Download, listen
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-6c0001" name="image-6c0001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b62d9ff/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/873cffb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2cb62e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Bullet-riddled Pontiac" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2cb62e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e7ca2d7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2cb62e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times files</p></div></div>
</figure>
<p>T.J. started calling himself Batman. After he won millions of dollars in his wrongful conviction lawsuit, T.J. spent the money like it was something to get rid of. He bought a fleet of expensive cars, flipped young guys in rival territory on the West Side and created a new crew. It kicked off a violent gang war.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-c40001" name="html-embed-module-c40001"></a><p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.wbez.org/story-embed/db35bb20-4a36-42d6-a10a-39f7e0394656" width="100%" height="77"></iframe></p>
</div>
</div><p><i>You can listen to “Motive” wherever you get your podcasts, including </i><a class="Link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motive/id1479220905" target="_blank" ><i>Apple Podcasts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://pca.st/bzn1z253" target="_blank" ><i>Pocket Casts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5ymaeoUvVnSrT5CWJ04lFk" target="_blank" ><i>Spotify</i></a><i>, and </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wbez/motive" target="_blank" ><i>Stitcher</i></a><i>.</i></p><h2>Motive extra features</h2><p>Get a look at the real-life people and places covered in this episode of “Motive.” <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >Meet T.J., his mother Victoria</a> and the family members, friends and lawyers who tell his story.</p><h2>Owen “Oskeeno” Spears</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-c70002" name="image-variant-c70002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/34464bc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/584x328+0+228/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FP29fJP9oDOBmt2RYjiis-5Oe2hM%3D%2F0x0%3A584x784%2F584x784%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28292x392%3A293x393%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376481%2FOwen__Oskeeno__Spears.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/96592db/2147483647/strip/true/crop/584x328+0+228/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FP29fJP9oDOBmt2RYjiis-5Oe2hM%3D%2F0x0%3A584x784%2F584x784%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28292x392%3A293x393%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376481%2FOwen__Oskeeno__Spears.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a3383cd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/584x328+0+228/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FP29fJP9oDOBmt2RYjiis-5Oe2hM%3D%2F0x0%3A584x784%2F584x784%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28292x392%3A293x393%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376481%2FOwen__Oskeeno__Spears.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Owen “Oskeeno” Spears headshot" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a3383cd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/584x328+0+228/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FP29fJP9oDOBmt2RYjiis-5Oe2hM%3D%2F0x0%3A584x784%2F584x784%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28292x392%3A293x393%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376481%2FOwen__Oskeeno__Spears.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/766876b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/584x328+0+228/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FP29fJP9oDOBmt2RYjiis-5Oe2hM%3D%2F0x0%3A584x784%2F584x784%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28292x392%3A293x393%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376481%2FOwen__Oskeeno__Spears.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a3383cd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/584x328+0+228/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FP29fJP9oDOBmt2RYjiis-5Oe2hM%3D%2F0x0%3A584x784%2F584x784%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28292x392%3A293x393%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376481%2FOwen__Oskeeno__Spears.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times files/Mike Lansu</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Spears switched to T.J.’s gang, the Simon City Royals. An aspiring rapper, he wrote an anthem for the Royals. Spears was shot to death on Oct. 27, 2014 at the age of 22. Police suspect a rival gang was responsible, although no one was charged.</p><h2>Bullet-riddled Pontiac</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-c90001" name="image-variant-c90001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b62d9ff/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/873cffb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2cb62e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Bullet-riddled Pontiac" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2cb62e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e7ca2d7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2cb62e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/971x545+0+54/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTsRrvBjuLAMnF-5UeyYKJDa20s%3D%2F0x0%3A971x652%2F971x652%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28486x326%3A487x327%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376499%2FTyris_Ferguson_murder_2.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times files</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Tyris Ferguson, 23, a member of T.J.’s crew, was killed on Nov. 19, 2014 on the West Side. The Pontiac Grand Prix he was in was riddled with bullets — at least 27. The gang war between the Simon City Royals and their rivals was mounting.</p><h2>Divonte Hall</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-cc0002" name="image-variant-cc0002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5a01ee3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKWsEuCIkUaST489lCNWJ1uFqwvY%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376519%2Fdivonte_hall.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5f37ac7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKWsEuCIkUaST489lCNWJ1uFqwvY%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376519%2Fdivonte_hall.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/99965aa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKWsEuCIkUaST489lCNWJ1uFqwvY%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376519%2Fdivonte_hall.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Divonte Hall booking photo" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/99965aa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKWsEuCIkUaST489lCNWJ1uFqwvY%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376519%2Fdivonte_hall.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b29b58d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKWsEuCIkUaST489lCNWJ1uFqwvY%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376519%2Fdivonte_hall.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/99965aa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/624x350+0+59/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FKWsEuCIkUaST489lCNWJ1uFqwvY%3D%2F0x0%3A624x468%2F624x468%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28312x234%3A313x235%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376519%2Fdivonte_hall.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Cook County Sheriff</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Divonte Hall, now 23, flipped from the Traveling Vice Lords to the Simon City Royals and got his face tattooed with a cross, a symbol of the Royals. He’s now in state prison for armed robbery.</p><h2>T.J.’s sentencing hearing</h2><p><a class="Link" href="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19376559/TJ_sentencing_transcript.pdf" target="_blank" >TJ sentencing transcript.pdf</a></p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
<div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed>
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19376559/TJ_sentencing_transcript.pdf"></iframe>
</div>
</div></div><p>This is a transcript of the sentencing hearing for T.J. in federal court on March 9, 2017. He got more than nine years in prison for possession of a handgun he used to shoot Earl Casteel in the legs in 2015 on the Northwest Side. Starting on page 34, the prosecutor talks about the damage T.J.’s crew did.</p><h2>Robbery photo</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-cf0002" name="image-variant-cf0002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/535875b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3200x1796+0+302/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FqMEbXSrKBlPMvQGZGe4AP-oDs9Q%3D%2F0x0%3A3200x2400%2F3200x2400%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281600x1200%3A1601x1201%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376536%2FThomas_robbery_1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/136104e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3200x1796+0+302/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FqMEbXSrKBlPMvQGZGe4AP-oDs9Q%3D%2F0x0%3A3200x2400%2F3200x2400%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281600x1200%3A1601x1201%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376536%2FThomas_robbery_1.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b62b6a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3200x1796+0+302/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FqMEbXSrKBlPMvQGZGe4AP-oDs9Q%3D%2F0x0%3A3200x2400%2F3200x2400%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281600x1200%3A1601x1201%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376536%2FThomas_robbery_1.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Tyrell Thomas (in the red cap), a West Side gang member who switched allegiance to Thaddeus Jimenez’s Simon City Royals, carrying a Master Piece Arms .45-caliber submachine-gun before a robbery on April 12, 2015." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b62b6a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3200x1796+0+302/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FqMEbXSrKBlPMvQGZGe4AP-oDs9Q%3D%2F0x0%3A3200x2400%2F3200x2400%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281600x1200%3A1601x1201%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376536%2FThomas_robbery_1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0affc11/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3200x1796+0+302/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FqMEbXSrKBlPMvQGZGe4AP-oDs9Q%3D%2F0x0%3A3200x2400%2F3200x2400%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281600x1200%3A1601x1201%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376536%2FThomas_robbery_1.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b62b6a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3200x1796+0+302/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FqMEbXSrKBlPMvQGZGe4AP-oDs9Q%3D%2F0x0%3A3200x2400%2F3200x2400%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281600x1200%3A1601x1201%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376536%2FThomas_robbery_1.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>U.S. District Court evidence exhibit</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>This photo shows Tyrell Thomas (in red cap), a member of T.J.’s crew, holding a submachine-gun in his left hand before he robbed a convenience store on the West Side in 2015. Thomas was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for possession of the gun he used in the holdup.</p><h2>T.J. before he shoots Earl Casteel </h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-d20002" name="image-variant-d20002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/92b988e/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FwH3D-OjDNDWCl6AA4OrCuxm7Ckw%3D%2F0x0%3A1278x966%2F1278x966%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28639x483%3A640x484%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376543%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_12_at_10.51.33_PM.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/53566e4/2147483647/strip/true/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FwH3D-OjDNDWCl6AA4OrCuxm7Ckw%3D%2F0x0%3A1278x966%2F1278x966%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28639x483%3A640x484%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376543%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_12_at_10.51.33_PM.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3d99e86/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FwH3D-OjDNDWCl6AA4OrCuxm7Ckw%3D%2F0x0%3A1278x966%2F1278x966%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28639x483%3A640x484%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376543%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_12_at_10.51.33_PM.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="T.J. Jimenez just before he shoots Earl Casteel" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3d99e86/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FwH3D-OjDNDWCl6AA4OrCuxm7Ckw%3D%2F0x0%3A1278x966%2F1278x966%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28639x483%3A640x484%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376543%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_12_at_10.51.33_PM.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8fef4dc/2147483647/strip/true/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FwH3D-OjDNDWCl6AA4OrCuxm7Ckw%3D%2F0x0%3A1278x966%2F1278x966%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28639x483%3A640x484%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376543%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_12_at_10.51.33_PM.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3d99e86/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FwH3D-OjDNDWCl6AA4OrCuxm7Ckw%3D%2F0x0%3A1278x966%2F1278x966%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28639x483%3A640x484%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19376543%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_12_at_10.51.33_PM.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>U.S. District Court evidence exhibit</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>T.J. rolled up to Earl Casteel on Aug. 17, 2015 and shot him in both legs. T.J. was driving a Mercedes convertible, which he crashed after a short police chase on the Northwest Side. The police recovered T.J.’s friend’s cell phone, which had a video of the shooting.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >‘Motive’ podcast: Who’s who</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/11/15/20964943/motive-podcast-episode-9-download-listenSun-Times2019-11-08T05:30:00-06:002019-11-26T12:59:35-06:00‘Motive’ podcast Episode 8: Download, listen
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-660002" name="image-660002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/32e47dd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x337+0+31/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FsZDTY0oCvbPZZIcKcDxRiPIiKYw%3D%2F0x0%3A600x399%2F600x399%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28258x172%3A259x173%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16081021%2Fbx204_28ec_9_600x399.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/60beffd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x337+0+31/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FsZDTY0oCvbPZZIcKcDxRiPIiKYw%3D%2F0x0%3A600x399%2F600x399%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28258x172%3A259x173%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16081021%2Fbx204_28ec_9_600x399.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ca06814/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x337+0+31/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FsZDTY0oCvbPZZIcKcDxRiPIiKYw%3D%2F0x0%3A600x399%2F600x399%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28258x172%3A259x173%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16081021%2Fbx204_28ec_9_600x399.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Attorney Jon Loevy." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ca06814/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x337+0+31/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FsZDTY0oCvbPZZIcKcDxRiPIiKYw%3D%2F0x0%3A600x399%2F600x399%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28258x172%3A259x173%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16081021%2Fbx204_28ec_9_600x399.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/60fbd41/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x337+0+31/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FsZDTY0oCvbPZZIcKcDxRiPIiKYw%3D%2F0x0%3A600x399%2F600x399%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28258x172%3A259x173%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16081021%2Fbx204_28ec_9_600x399.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ca06814/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x337+0+31/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FsZDTY0oCvbPZZIcKcDxRiPIiKYw%3D%2F0x0%3A600x399%2F600x399%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28258x172%3A259x173%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16081021%2Fbx204_28ec_9_600x399.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Attorney Jon Loevy, who represented T.J. during his wrongful-conviction lawsuit.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin / Sun-Times</p></div></div>
</figure>
<p>Two legal heavyweights square off in federal court in T.J.’s wrongful-conviction lawsuit against the City of Chicago. Attorney Jon Loevy is on T.J.’s side. Attorney Andy Hale is in the city’s corner. T.J. is seeking millions of dollars for the 16 years he was locked up for murder.</p><p>Hale’s job isn’t easy. Even though the state granted T.J. a “certificate of innocence,” Hale must persuade the jury of T.J.’s guilt and that the police did nothing wrong. We know how the story ends: The jury awards T.J. $25 million. </p><p>But how exactly did that happen? And what did sitting through that trial — and reliving the painful details of his arrest and his time in prison — do to T.J.?</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-720000" name="html-embed-module-720000"></a><p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.wbez.org/story-embed/afc078c1-24b8-423a-9d2e-ce89e37b7651" width="100%" height="77"></iframe></p>
</div>
</div><p><i>You can listen to “Motive” wherever you get your podcasts, including </i><a class="Link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motive/id1479220905" target="_blank" ><i>Apple Podcasts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://pca.st/bzn1z253" target="_blank" ><i>Pocket Casts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5ymaeoUvVnSrT5CWJ04lFk" target="_blank" ><i>Spotify</i></a><i>, and </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wbez/motive" target="_blank" ><i>Stitcher</i></a><i>.</i></p><h2>Motive extra features</h2><p>Get a look at the real-life people and places covered in this episode of “Motive.” <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >Meet T.J., his mother Victoria</a> and the family members, friends and lawyers who tell his story.</p><h2>Andy Hale</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-780002" name="image-variant-780002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/16e5268/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1744x979+0+72/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjOsmIwuwRYRS2wMKDejtvTdZ22E%3D%2F0x0%3A1744x1122%2F1744x1122%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28872x561%3A873x562%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19347193%2Fmerlin_522194.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/52600c4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1744x979+0+72/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjOsmIwuwRYRS2wMKDejtvTdZ22E%3D%2F0x0%3A1744x1122%2F1744x1122%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28872x561%3A873x562%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19347193%2Fmerlin_522194.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/94f16f5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1744x979+0+72/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjOsmIwuwRYRS2wMKDejtvTdZ22E%3D%2F0x0%3A1744x1122%2F1744x1122%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28872x561%3A873x562%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19347193%2Fmerlin_522194.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="merlin_522194.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/94f16f5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1744x979+0+72/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjOsmIwuwRYRS2wMKDejtvTdZ22E%3D%2F0x0%3A1744x1122%2F1744x1122%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28872x561%3A873x562%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19347193%2Fmerlin_522194.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/af005c6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1744x979+0+72/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjOsmIwuwRYRS2wMKDejtvTdZ22E%3D%2F0x0%3A1744x1122%2F1744x1122%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28872x561%3A873x562%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19347193%2Fmerlin_522194.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/94f16f5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1744x979+0+72/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjOsmIwuwRYRS2wMKDejtvTdZ22E%3D%2F0x0%3A1744x1122%2F1744x1122%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28872x561%3A873x562%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19347193%2Fmerlin_522194.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Shown here on Aug. 22, 2001, Chicago attorney Andrew Hale filed a lawsuit against Jewel and Dominick’s for price fixing of milk.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Jean Lachat/Sun-Times</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Andy Hale often defends the City of Chicago in lawsuits alleging the police wrongfully arrested people, but he has also represented people claiming they were victims of police misconduct. </p><h2>Phil Torres</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-7e0002" name="image-variant-7e0002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/03e8f2c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2296x1289+0+104/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FASdIZt_wisEAbTp9avO46OJG-ZA%3D%2F0x0%3A2296x1496%2F2296x1496%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281148x748%3A1149x749%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346902%2FPhil_Torres.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0189cde/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2296x1289+0+104/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FASdIZt_wisEAbTp9avO46OJG-ZA%3D%2F0x0%3A2296x1496%2F2296x1496%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281148x748%3A1149x749%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346902%2FPhil_Torres.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7f7fbb6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2296x1289+0+104/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FASdIZt_wisEAbTp9avO46OJG-ZA%3D%2F0x0%3A2296x1496%2F2296x1496%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281148x748%3A1149x749%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346902%2FPhil_Torres.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Phil Torres sitting in a chair at a desk" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7f7fbb6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2296x1289+0+104/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FASdIZt_wisEAbTp9avO46OJG-ZA%3D%2F0x0%3A2296x1496%2F2296x1496%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281148x748%3A1149x749%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346902%2FPhil_Torres.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4e2b275/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2296x1289+0+104/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FASdIZt_wisEAbTp9avO46OJG-ZA%3D%2F0x0%3A2296x1496%2F2296x1496%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281148x748%3A1149x749%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346902%2FPhil_Torres.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7f7fbb6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2296x1289+0+104/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FASdIZt_wisEAbTp9avO46OJG-ZA%3D%2F0x0%3A2296x1496%2F2296x1496%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281148x748%3A1149x749%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346902%2FPhil_Torres.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Phil Torres</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Federal court files</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p> had testified against T.J. at his murder trial in the ‘90s. He said he looked out of his third-floor window and saw T.J. shoot Eric Morro as they stood next to the Honey Baked Ham store on Belmont Avenue in Chicago. Later, in a raucous deposition, Loevy and Hale both question Phil about the night of the murder in 1993.</p><h2>Opening statements </h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
<div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed>
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19346964/TJ_Lawsuit_Opening.pdf"></iframe>
</div>
</div></div><p>In T.J.’s federal trial over his wrongful-conviction lawsuit against the city, his attorney Jon Loevy argues that a Chicago police detective named Jerome Bogucki pressured witnesses into identifying T.J. as a killer in 1993. And when another possible suspect surfaced, the detective ignored it, according to Loevy. The city’s attorney, Andy Hale, argues that T.J. did kill Eric Morro and that prosecutors were duped 16 years later into asking a judge to overturn his murder conviction. So T.J doesn’t deserve a dime, Hale tells the jurors.</p><h2>A secret tape</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-840003" name="image-variant-840003"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/747d336/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1220x685+0+100/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIXVMFqBS2aUFr5GQ55DLgph61wQ%3D%2F0x0%3A1220x884%2F1220x884%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28610x442%3A611x443%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346968%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_04_at_2.04.57_PM.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cff8e5d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1220x685+0+100/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIXVMFqBS2aUFr5GQ55DLgph61wQ%3D%2F0x0%3A1220x884%2F1220x884%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28610x442%3A611x443%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346968%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_04_at_2.04.57_PM.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/16056e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1220x685+0+100/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIXVMFqBS2aUFr5GQ55DLgph61wQ%3D%2F0x0%3A1220x884%2F1220x884%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28610x442%3A611x443%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346968%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_04_at_2.04.57_PM.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Screen grab of secret federal tapes" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/16056e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1220x685+0+100/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIXVMFqBS2aUFr5GQ55DLgph61wQ%3D%2F0x0%3A1220x884%2F1220x884%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28610x442%3A611x443%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346968%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_04_at_2.04.57_PM.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e711376/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1220x685+0+100/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIXVMFqBS2aUFr5GQ55DLgph61wQ%3D%2F0x0%3A1220x884%2F1220x884%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28610x442%3A611x443%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346968%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_04_at_2.04.57_PM.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/16056e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1220x685+0+100/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FIXVMFqBS2aUFr5GQ55DLgph61wQ%3D%2F0x0%3A1220x884%2F1220x884%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28610x442%3A611x443%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19346968%2FScreen_Shot_2019_11_04_at_2.04.57_PM.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Federal court files</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>This is a screen grab from a video showing English subtitles for a Spanish-language audio recording. The translation was used by the lawyers involved in T.J.s wrongful-conviction lawsuit against the city. In 1993 — after Detective Bogucki had arrested T.J. for murder — this audio recording emerged. It cast suspicion on a different possible shooter in the murder of Eric Morro.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >‘Motive’ podcast: Who’s who</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/11/8/20948705/motive-podcast-episode-8-download-listenSun-Times2019-11-01T05:30:00-05:002019-11-26T12:59:27-06:00‘Motive’ podcast Episode 7: Download, listen
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-340001" name="image-340001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cb0c70b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fa8d910/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1856dfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="T.J. Jimenez flashes the Simon City Royals gang sign." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1856dfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0c41283/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1856dfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>T.J. Jimenez flashes the Simon City Royals gang sign.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times file</p></div></div>
</figure>
<p>When TJ walked into Stateville at age 17, he was a boy among men. Gang leaders had a lot of power in the penitentiary in the late ‘90s. They were the ones that assigned TJ a cell. He learned the rules of prison and became a cog in the gang bureaucracy. But he kept getting in trouble with the guards and was moved to another prison where he experienced just how low you can go. He was alone in cell for 23 hours a day and it nearly broke his spirit. Then he was transferred to a medium-security place where he took college courses and had a job. </p><p>In 2009, he was exonerated after spending 16 years in prison. It was a fresh start. But could he handle the trauma of prison that was festering inside of him?</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-710001" name="html-embed-module-710001"></a><p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.wbez.org/story-embed/fb44ff44-51af-4803-88e1-82dddb046163" width="100%" height="77"></iframe></p>
</div>
</div><p><i>You can listen to “Motive” wherever you get your podcasts, including </i><a class="Link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motive/id1479220905" target="_blank" ><i>Apple Podcasts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://pca.st/bzn1z253" target="_blank" ><i>Pocket Casts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5ymaeoUvVnSrT5CWJ04lFk" target="_blank" ><i>Spotify</i></a><i>, and </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wbez/motive" target="_blank" ><i>Stitcher</i></a><i>.</i></p><h2>Motive extra features</h2><p>Get a look at the real-life people and places covered in this episode of “Motive.” <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >Meet T.J., his mother Victoria</a> and the family members, friends and lawyers who tell his story.</p><h2>TJ flashing Royals gang sign</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-750001" name="image-variant-750001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cb0c70b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fa8d910/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1856dfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="T.J. Jimenez flashes the Simon City Royals gang sign." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1856dfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0c41283/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1856dfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FXn1E6w3X3fQJ9iT4hYdKxWocPV4%3D%2F0x0%3A4032x3024%2F4032x3024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282016x1512%3A2017x1513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332369%2FTJ_flashes_gang_sign.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times file</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Here is TJ flashing showing how he flashed a Simon City Royals gang sign at a school bus on a Chicago street corner in 1993. He would have thrown up the same gang sign when he entered prison on a murder conviction at age 17. This photo is taken from a 2010 deposition in his wrongful conviction lawsuit against the city of Chicago.</p><h2>Montrose Beach</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-7b0001" name="image-variant-7b0001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aaf3cb1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3442x1932+0+264/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjhMxFgzSr8mLfeYPVG2-wCsrQrY%3D%2F0x0%3A3442x2459%2F3442x2459%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281721x1230%3A1722x1231%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F18337843%2FMITCHELL_072819_37.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fda7dc1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3442x1932+0+264/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjhMxFgzSr8mLfeYPVG2-wCsrQrY%3D%2F0x0%3A3442x2459%2F3442x2459%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281721x1230%3A1722x1231%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F18337843%2FMITCHELL_072819_37.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d4ceec2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3442x1932+0+264/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjhMxFgzSr8mLfeYPVG2-wCsrQrY%3D%2F0x0%3A3442x2459%2F3442x2459%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281721x1230%3A1722x1231%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F18337843%2FMITCHELL_072819_37.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="People cool off at Montrose Beach on the North Side during a heat wave, Friday afternoon, July 19, 2019." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d4ceec2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3442x1932+0+264/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjhMxFgzSr8mLfeYPVG2-wCsrQrY%3D%2F0x0%3A3442x2459%2F3442x2459%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281721x1230%3A1722x1231%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F18337843%2FMITCHELL_072819_37.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5da0f72/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3442x1932+0+264/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjhMxFgzSr8mLfeYPVG2-wCsrQrY%3D%2F0x0%3A3442x2459%2F3442x2459%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281721x1230%3A1722x1231%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F18337843%2FMITCHELL_072819_37.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d4ceec2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3442x1932+0+264/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FjhMxFgzSr8mLfeYPVG2-wCsrQrY%3D%2F0x0%3A3442x2459%2F3442x2459%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281721x1230%3A1722x1231%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F18337843%2FMITCHELL_072819_37.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>While he was in prison, TJ would dream of family gatherings at Montrose Beach on the North Side of Chicago.</p><h2>The Old Farmer’s Almanac</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-810002" name="image-variant-810002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3e6f561/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3110x1745+0+1246/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F7Xuxmw5J4vdkKC_9Qmm4i4G2wUk%3D%2F0x0%3A3110x4238%2F3110x4238%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281555x2119%3A1556x2120%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332404%2FFarmers_Almanac.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/18f21dd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3110x1745+0+1246/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F7Xuxmw5J4vdkKC_9Qmm4i4G2wUk%3D%2F0x0%3A3110x4238%2F3110x4238%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281555x2119%3A1556x2120%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332404%2FFarmers_Almanac.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7f133a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3110x1745+0+1246/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F7Xuxmw5J4vdkKC_9Qmm4i4G2wUk%3D%2F0x0%3A3110x4238%2F3110x4238%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281555x2119%3A1556x2120%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332404%2FFarmers_Almanac.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="The cover of the 2013 Farmer’s Almanac" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7f133a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3110x1745+0+1246/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F7Xuxmw5J4vdkKC_9Qmm4i4G2wUk%3D%2F0x0%3A3110x4238%2F3110x4238%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281555x2119%3A1556x2120%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332404%2FFarmers_Almanac.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1ef94b7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3110x1745+0+1246/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F7Xuxmw5J4vdkKC_9Qmm4i4G2wUk%3D%2F0x0%3A3110x4238%2F3110x4238%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281555x2119%3A1556x2120%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332404%2FFarmers_Almanac.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7f133a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3110x1745+0+1246/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F7Xuxmw5J4vdkKC_9Qmm4i4G2wUk%3D%2F0x0%3A3110x4238%2F3110x4238%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281555x2119%3A1556x2120%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332404%2FFarmers_Almanac.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>AP</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>TJ wasn’t into fiction. In prison, he liked to read the Old Farmer’s Almanac.</p><h2>Sonic restaurant</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-860002" name="image-variant-860002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/14c6db4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2605x1462+16+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FvYgw7VNotG2KFU7J6ljcHbkHizA%3D%2F0x0%3A2638x1462%2F2638x1462%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281319x731%3A1320x732%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332415%2Fjo27_sonic_2.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d74ab98/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2605x1462+16+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FvYgw7VNotG2KFU7J6ljcHbkHizA%3D%2F0x0%3A2638x1462%2F2638x1462%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281319x731%3A1320x732%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332415%2Fjo27_sonic_2.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aa76169/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2605x1462+16+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FvYgw7VNotG2KFU7J6ljcHbkHizA%3D%2F0x0%3A2638x1462%2F2638x1462%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281319x731%3A1320x732%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332415%2Fjo27_sonic_2.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="jo27_sonic_2.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aa76169/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2605x1462+16+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FvYgw7VNotG2KFU7J6ljcHbkHizA%3D%2F0x0%3A2638x1462%2F2638x1462%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281319x731%3A1320x732%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332415%2Fjo27_sonic_2.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f41cba6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2605x1462+16+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FvYgw7VNotG2KFU7J6ljcHbkHizA%3D%2F0x0%3A2638x1462%2F2638x1462%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281319x731%3A1320x732%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332415%2Fjo27_sonic_2.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aa76169/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2605x1462+16+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FvYgw7VNotG2KFU7J6ljcHbkHizA%3D%2F0x0%3A2638x1462%2F2638x1462%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281319x731%3A1320x732%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19332415%2Fjo27_sonic_2.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>STNG</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>TJ only had $19 in “gate money” in his pocket when he walked out of prison. He worked at a few Sonic restaurants (this one is in Crest Hill) as a cook and janitor before he was awarded $25 million in his lawsuit. </p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >‘Motive’ podcast: Who’s who</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/11/1/20940446/motive-podcast-episode-7-download-listenSun-Times2019-10-25T06:00:00-05:002021-04-20T17:26:32-05:00‘Motive podcast, Episode 6: Download, listen
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-090002" name="image-090002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7468339/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8337029/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d23ea05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Brian Nelson’s arrest photo" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d23ea05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/588d08e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d23ea05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Brian Nelson’s arrest photo</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times files</p></div></div>
</figure>
<p>Brian Nelson got the nickname Mousey as a teenager in the Simon City Royals because he could escape from almost anything. But in the early 1980s, he got caught for a murder and was sent to Stateville prison, where he became a leader in the gang hierarchy. He became friends with big-name criminals: Gangster Disciples kingpin Larry Hoover and Richard Speck, who killed eight nursing students. </p><p>Nelson escaped from Stateville, but was quickly caught. And that sent him on the “circuit.” He was moved around prisons in Illinois and other parts of the country. In 1998, he was sent to Tamms, a new super-maximum prison in southern Illinois where he was isolated from other inmates, often in the dark, for years. He copied the entire Bible by hand. He became friends with spiders. He nearly lost his mind. </p><p>Nelson completed his sentence in 2010. He tells us what prison — and segregation — can do to people, including T.J.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-f10001" name="html-embed-module-f10001"></a><p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.wbez.org/story-embed/626b2ea6-7422-41cc-b6b8-5d60df50587b" width="100%" height="77"></iframe></p>
</div>
</div><p><i>You can listen to “Motive” wherever you get your podcasts, including </i><a class="Link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motive/id1479220905" target="_blank" ><i>Apple Podcasts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://pca.st/bzn1z253" target="_blank" ><i>Pocket Casts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5ymaeoUvVnSrT5CWJ04lFk" target="_blank" ><i>Spotify</i></a><i>, and </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wbez/motive" target="_blank" ><i>Stitcher</i></a><i>.</i></p><h2>Motive extra features</h2><p>Get a look at the real-life people and places covered in this episode of “Motive.” <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >Meet T.J., his mother Victoria</a> and the family members, friends and lawyers who tell his story.</p><h2>Stateville Correctional Center</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-f60002" name="image-variant-f60002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/09f1999/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+52/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FbneuGdETbVZisCi68xjKqshXJRw%3D%2F0x0%3A2000x1226%2F2000x1226%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281000x613%3A1001x614%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19314033%2Fjo03_stateville.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3a0db52/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+52/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FbneuGdETbVZisCi68xjKqshXJRw%3D%2F0x0%3A2000x1226%2F2000x1226%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281000x613%3A1001x614%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19314033%2Fjo03_stateville.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e6ec01a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+52/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FbneuGdETbVZisCi68xjKqshXJRw%3D%2F0x0%3A2000x1226%2F2000x1226%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281000x613%3A1001x614%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19314033%2Fjo03_stateville.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="he front entrance of Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e6ec01a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+52/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FbneuGdETbVZisCi68xjKqshXJRw%3D%2F0x0%3A2000x1226%2F2000x1226%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281000x613%3A1001x614%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19314033%2Fjo03_stateville.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b218552/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+52/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FbneuGdETbVZisCi68xjKqshXJRw%3D%2F0x0%3A2000x1226%2F2000x1226%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281000x613%3A1001x614%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19314033%2Fjo03_stateville.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e6ec01a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+52/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FbneuGdETbVZisCi68xjKqshXJRw%3D%2F0x0%3A2000x1226%2F2000x1226%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281000x613%3A1001x614%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19314033%2Fjo03_stateville.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The front entrance of Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>STNG</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Both T.J. and Nelson wound up serving time at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill. As Gangster Disciples kingpin Larry Hoover once described it, gangs had free run of the place and even had keys to most of the doors — except the main entrance and exits. </p><h2>Larry Hoover</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-fc0001" name="image-variant-fc0001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2449daf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+295/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FnoTWCGOhJ3c4RhB4ohy3SlSneF8%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2274%2F3000x2274%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281500x1137%3A1501x1138%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316343%2FLarry_Hoover.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b76d0a9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+295/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FnoTWCGOhJ3c4RhB4ohy3SlSneF8%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2274%2F3000x2274%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281500x1137%3A1501x1138%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316343%2FLarry_Hoover.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9ed5a37/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+295/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FnoTWCGOhJ3c4RhB4ohy3SlSneF8%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2274%2F3000x2274%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281500x1137%3A1501x1138%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316343%2FLarry_Hoover.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Larry Hoover." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9ed5a37/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+295/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FnoTWCGOhJ3c4RhB4ohy3SlSneF8%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2274%2F3000x2274%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281500x1137%3A1501x1138%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316343%2FLarry_Hoover.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b7b1f74/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+295/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FnoTWCGOhJ3c4RhB4ohy3SlSneF8%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2274%2F3000x2274%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281500x1137%3A1501x1138%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316343%2FLarry_Hoover.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9ed5a37/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+295/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FnoTWCGOhJ3c4RhB4ohy3SlSneF8%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2274%2F3000x2274%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281500x1137%3A1501x1138%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316343%2FLarry_Hoover.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times file</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Hoover is the chairman of the Gangster Disciples street gang. He’s serving a life sentence in a federal prison in Colorado.</p><h2>Richard Speck</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-000001" name="image-variant-000001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b08acbf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/764x429+0+298/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FD4OAtKv6fgfY2xnUmHSUHN658fg%3D%2F0x0%3A764x1024%2F764x1024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28382x512%3A383x513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16058892%2Fspeck__richard_franklin_murder_case__alone___005a_38501964.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4e66195/2147483647/strip/true/crop/764x429+0+298/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FD4OAtKv6fgfY2xnUmHSUHN658fg%3D%2F0x0%3A764x1024%2F764x1024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28382x512%3A383x513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16058892%2Fspeck__richard_franklin_murder_case__alone___005a_38501964.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/12ee783/2147483647/strip/true/crop/764x429+0+298/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FD4OAtKv6fgfY2xnUmHSUHN658fg%3D%2F0x0%3A764x1024%2F764x1024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28382x512%3A383x513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16058892%2Fspeck__richard_franklin_murder_case__alone___005a_38501964.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Convicted murderer Richard Speck, with painting supplies, at Stateville in 1989. | Sun-Times file photo" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/12ee783/2147483647/strip/true/crop/764x429+0+298/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FD4OAtKv6fgfY2xnUmHSUHN658fg%3D%2F0x0%3A764x1024%2F764x1024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28382x512%3A383x513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16058892%2Fspeck__richard_franklin_murder_case__alone___005a_38501964.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/58412f1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/764x429+0+298/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FD4OAtKv6fgfY2xnUmHSUHN658fg%3D%2F0x0%3A764x1024%2F764x1024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28382x512%3A383x513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16058892%2Fspeck__richard_franklin_murder_case__alone___005a_38501964.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/12ee783/2147483647/strip/true/crop/764x429+0+298/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FD4OAtKv6fgfY2xnUmHSUHN658fg%3D%2F0x0%3A764x1024%2F764x1024%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28382x512%3A383x513%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16058892%2Fspeck__richard_franklin_murder_case__alone___005a_38501964.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Convicted murderer Richard Speck, with painting supplies, at Stateville in 1989.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times file photo</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Speck may be up there with John Wayne Gacy in terms of infamy in Illinois. In 1966, Speck murdered eight nursing students. While he was in prison at Stateville, however, life was hardly punishing. A leaked tape of Speck doing cocaine and having sex with an inmate showed the public what was really going on in Illinois’ prisons. He died in 1991.</p><h2>Tamms Correctional Center</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item">
<bsp-carousel class="Carousel Enhancement" data-align-center>
<a class="AnchorLink" id="gallery-0d0002" name="gallery-0d0002"></a>
<div>
<div class="Carousel-slides">
<div class="Carousel-slide">
<div class="CarouselSlide" >
<div class="CarouselSlide-media">
<picture data-crop="large">
<source type="image/webp" width="840"
height="555"
srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1a14df5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2419x1598+0+46/resize/840x555!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a69fcd2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2419x1598+0+46/resize/1680x1110!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg 2x"/>
<source width="840"
height="555"
srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6561cec/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2419x1598+0+46/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg"/>
<img class="Image" alt="Outside view of Tamms" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6561cec/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2419x1598+0+46/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/474ab5b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2419x1598+0+46/resize/1680x1110!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg 2x" width="840" height="555"
src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6561cec/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2419x1598+0+46/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg">
</picture>
</div>
<div class="CarouselSlide-info">
<div class="CarouselSlide-infoTitle"><span class="CarouselSlide-infoDescription">Outside view of Tamms</span>
<span class="CarouselSlide-pipe">|</span>
<span class="CarouselSlide-infoAttribution">Liz Wilkinson</span></div>
<div class="CarouselSlide-pagination">
<span class="CarouselSlide-currentSlide">1</span> of <span class="CarouselSlide-slidesLength">2</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="Carousel-slide">
<div class="CarouselSlide" >
<div class="CarouselSlide-media">
<picture data-crop="large">
<source type="image/webp" width="840"
height="555"
srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/890ef87/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1980x1308+0+67/resize/840x555!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/633710b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1980x1308+0+67/resize/1680x1110!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg 2x"/>
<source width="840"
height="555"
srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c82ec53/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1980x1308+0+67/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg"/>
<img class="Image" alt="Inside of Tamms" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c82ec53/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1980x1308+0+67/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/974f545/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1980x1308+0+67/resize/1680x1110!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg 2x" width="840" height="555"
src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c82ec53/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1980x1308+0+67/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg">
</picture>
</div>
<div class="CarouselSlide-info">
<div class="CarouselSlide-infoTitle"><span class="CarouselSlide-infoDescription">A cell block at the new Tamms Correctional Center in Tamms, Ill., is shown on Feb. 3, 1998, when the facility was dedicated. Illinois’ newest and toughest state prison has been designed to isolate the worst inmates from the rest of Illinois’ 41,000 prisoners and break them of their violent habits through strict isolation.</span>
<span class="CarouselSlide-pipe">|</span>
<span class="CarouselSlide-infoAttribution">AP Photo/Mark Christian</span></div>
<div class="CarouselSlide-pagination">
<span class="CarouselSlide-currentSlide">2</span> of <span class="CarouselSlide-slidesLength">2</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div><div class="FlickityCustomNavigation-wrapper">
<div class="FlickityCustomNavigation main">
<button class="FlickityCustomNavigation-button-prev" type="button" aria-label="Previous">
<svg class="FlickityCustomNavigation-button-icon"><use xlink:href="#icon-left"></use></svg>
</button>
<button class="FlickityCustomNavigation-button-next" type="button" aria-label="Next">
<svg class="FlickityCustomNavigation-button-icon"><use xlink:href="#icon-right"></use></svg>
</button>
</div>
</div></div>
<div class="Carousel-nav">
<div class="Carousel-nav-items"><div class="Carousel-nav-items-item">
<div class="Carousel-mediaItem">
<div class="Carousel-mediaItem-media">
<span class="Link"><picture data-crop="medium-square">
<source type="image/webp" width="300"
height="300"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9a6e6c2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1690x1690+364+0/resize/300x300!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4e57f88/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1690x1690+364+0/resize/600x600!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMDBweCIgd2lkdGg9IjMwMHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="300"
height="300"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4a057ca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1690x1690+364+0/resize/300x300!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMDBweCIgd2lkdGg9IjMwMHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Outside view of Tamms" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4a057ca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1690x1690+364+0/resize/300x300!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1f08845/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1690x1690+364+0/resize/600x600!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg 2x" width="300" height="300"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4a057ca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1690x1690+364+0/resize/300x300!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FapRJSvdcDRBcPQ2syuoh4ML-7UY%3D%2F0x0%3A2419x1690%2F2419x1690%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281210x845%3A1211x846%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316292%2FTamms_Correctional_Center.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMDBweCIgd2lkdGg9IjMwMHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div><div class="Carousel-nav-items-item">
<div class="Carousel-mediaItem">
<div class="Carousel-mediaItem-media">
<span class="Link"><picture data-crop="medium-square">
<source type="image/webp" width="300"
height="300"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d9ed6e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1442x1442+269+0/resize/300x300!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5942c60/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1442x1442+269+0/resize/600x600!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMDBweCIgd2lkdGg9IjMwMHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="300"
height="300"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f6f5607/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1442x1442+269+0/resize/300x300!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMDBweCIgd2lkdGg9IjMwMHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Inside of Tamms" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f6f5607/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1442x1442+269+0/resize/300x300!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2c0b41d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1442x1442+269+0/resize/600x600!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg 2x" width="300" height="300"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f6f5607/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1442x1442+269+0/resize/300x300!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FfnRyTI__66mqHDkm8vWPFKY4jUI%3D%2F0x0%3A1980x1442%2F1980x1442%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28990x721%3A991x722%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16216150%2Fp1tamms_CST_1120.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMDBweCIgd2lkdGg9IjMwMHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div></div><div class="FlickityCustomNavigation-wrapper">
<div class="FlickityCustomNavigation below">
<button class="FlickityCustomNavigation-button-prev" type="button" aria-label="Previous">
<svg class="FlickityCustomNavigation-button-icon"><use xlink:href="#icon-left"></use></svg>
</button>
<button class="FlickityCustomNavigation-button-next" type="button" aria-label="Next">
<svg class="FlickityCustomNavigation-button-icon"><use xlink:href="#icon-right"></use></svg>
</button>
</div>
</div></div>
</bsp-carousel>
</div>
</div><p>Tamms was a prison in southern Illinois that opened in 1995 as a minimum-security facility. Three years later, it add 500 beds for a super-maximum prison where Nelson was held and subjected to isolation. The prison closed in 2013. In recent years, some lawmakers <a class="Link" href="https://thesouthern.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/southern-illinois-lawmakers-keep-pushing-to-reopen-tamms-correctional-center/article_24af78b0-9fe2-5905-a672-59f9ea17486f.html" target="_blank" >have attempted</a> to reopen the minimum-security prison.</p><h2>Brian Nelson’s arrest photo</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-0f0001" name="image-variant-0f0001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7468339/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8337029/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d23ea05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Brian Nelson’s arrest photo" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d23ea05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/588d08e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d23ea05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/842x473+0+312/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FVR7Q1dc6vdg4Fqr_sXDKGm-iRsc%3D%2F0x0%3A842x1096%2F842x1096%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28421x548%3A422x549%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316358%2FBrian_Nelson_arrest_photo.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times files</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Nelson, 17, in an arrest photo for a 1982 murder. Nelson was allegedly acting as a lookout during a robbery.</p><h2>The pen that copied it all</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-140002" name="image-variant-140002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3a71dab/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FL5g-zkSMsz2U48KUvOkf9a2jbEI%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316640%2FBrian_Nelson_2.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e2727c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FL5g-zkSMsz2U48KUvOkf9a2jbEI%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316640%2FBrian_Nelson_2.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/130b611/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FL5g-zkSMsz2U48KUvOkf9a2jbEI%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316640%2FBrian_Nelson_2.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Brian Nelson showing the pen he used to copy the Bible in longhand while imprisoned at now-closed Tamms Correctional Center, where he spent 23 hours a day in isolation." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/130b611/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FL5g-zkSMsz2U48KUvOkf9a2jbEI%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316640%2FBrian_Nelson_2.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ce9d97d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FL5g-zkSMsz2U48KUvOkf9a2jbEI%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316640%2FBrian_Nelson_2.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/130b611/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FL5g-zkSMsz2U48KUvOkf9a2jbEI%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19316640%2FBrian_Nelson_2.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Richard A. Chapman / Sun-Times file</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Nelson was the 13th inmate to be sent to Tamms Correctional Center. He spent 23 hours a day in isolation. He shows the pen he used to copy the Bible in longhand.</p><h2>Brian Nelson’s senate testimony</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
<div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed>
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19314493/Brian_Nelson_Senate_testimony_1.pdf"></iframe>
</div>
</div></div><p>In 2012, Nelson was invited by U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin to submit this written testimony to a congressional hearing on the use of segregation in American prisons.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >‘Motive’ podcast: Who’s who</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p></p><p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/10/25/20925616/motive-podcast-episode6-download-listenSun-Times2019-10-18T05:30:00-05:002019-10-18T06:31:28-05:00‘Motive’ podcast Episode 5: The Fairytale Ending
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-2e0002" name="image-2e0002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7455725/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJPeGc17GqB27lH0vokdTFcntoEE%3D%2F0x0%3A3939x2790%2F3939x2790%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281919x745%3A1920x746%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290344%2Fmerlin_12691955.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3e8cdc3/2147483647/strip/true/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJPeGc17GqB27lH0vokdTFcntoEE%3D%2F0x0%3A3939x2790%2F3939x2790%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281919x745%3A1920x746%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290344%2Fmerlin_12691955.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1d408bd/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJPeGc17GqB27lH0vokdTFcntoEE%3D%2F0x0%3A3939x2790%2F3939x2790%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281919x745%3A1920x746%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290344%2Fmerlin_12691955.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Thaddeus Jimenez, 30, sits with his mom Victoria Jimenez" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1d408bd/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJPeGc17GqB27lH0vokdTFcntoEE%3D%2F0x0%3A3939x2790%2F3939x2790%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281919x745%3A1920x746%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290344%2Fmerlin_12691955.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4770091/2147483647/strip/true/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJPeGc17GqB27lH0vokdTFcntoEE%3D%2F0x0%3A3939x2790%2F3939x2790%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281919x745%3A1920x746%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290344%2Fmerlin_12691955.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1d408bd/2147483647/strip/true/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FJPeGc17GqB27lH0vokdTFcntoEE%3D%2F0x0%3A3939x2790%2F3939x2790%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281919x745%3A1920x746%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290344%2Fmerlin_12691955.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Thaddeus Jimenez, 30, sits with his mom Victoria Jimenez before reading a statement to reporters on May 4, 2009. His 1993 murder conviction was vacated and he became a free man on May 1, 2009, after serving 16 years in prison.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Rich Hein/Sun-Times</p></div></div>
</figure>
<p>In 2009, a judge found T.J. was wrongfully convicted of murder and ordered him released. T.J. was free to go skydiving. He visited Wrigley Field. He settled down with a girlfriend and they had two kids. But there was no fairytale ending for T.J. He blew through a multimillion-dollar legal award, buying a fleet of fancy cars and showering money on a gang. And he created a war. </p><p>Or did he? A mysterious source tries to set the record straight.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-740000" name="html-embed-module-740000"></a><p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.wbez.org/story-embed/d86cc33a-c3f4-4e7d-8593-a687da66eebb" width="100%" height="77"></iframe></p>
</div>
</div><p><i>You can listen to “Motive” wherever you get your podcasts, including </i><a class="Link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motive/id1479220905" target="_blank" ><i>Apple Podcasts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://pca.st/bzn1z253" target="_blank" ><i>Pocket Casts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5ymaeoUvVnSrT5CWJ04lFk" target="_blank" ><i>Spotify</i></a><i>, and </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wbez/motive" target="_blank" ><i>Stitcher</i></a><i>.</i></p><h2>Motive extra features</h2><p>Get a look at the real-life people and places covered in this episode of “Motive.” <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >Meet T.J., his mother Victoria</a> and the family members, friends and lawyers who tell his story.</p><h2>Hill Correctional Center</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-770002" name="image-variant-770002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d636e94/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1262x708+0+27/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTpDoRjtn-yFiscMifEPWOF9NY4%3D%2F0x0%3A1262x763%2F1262x763%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28631x382%3A632x383%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19286847%2FScreen_Shot_2019_10_14_at_3.11.35_PM.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c411d21/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1262x708+0+27/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTpDoRjtn-yFiscMifEPWOF9NY4%3D%2F0x0%3A1262x763%2F1262x763%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28631x382%3A632x383%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19286847%2FScreen_Shot_2019_10_14_at_3.11.35_PM.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ae91e2e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1262x708+0+27/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTpDoRjtn-yFiscMifEPWOF9NY4%3D%2F0x0%3A1262x763%2F1262x763%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28631x382%3A632x383%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19286847%2FScreen_Shot_2019_10_14_at_3.11.35_PM.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Hill Correctional Center exterior" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ae91e2e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1262x708+0+27/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTpDoRjtn-yFiscMifEPWOF9NY4%3D%2F0x0%3A1262x763%2F1262x763%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28631x382%3A632x383%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19286847%2FScreen_Shot_2019_10_14_at_3.11.35_PM.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/24796a0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1262x708+0+27/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTpDoRjtn-yFiscMifEPWOF9NY4%3D%2F0x0%3A1262x763%2F1262x763%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28631x382%3A632x383%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19286847%2FScreen_Shot_2019_10_14_at_3.11.35_PM.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ae91e2e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1262x708+0+27/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhTpDoRjtn-yFiscMifEPWOF9NY4%3D%2F0x0%3A1262x763%2F1262x763%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28631x382%3A632x383%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19286847%2FScreen_Shot_2019_10_14_at_3.11.35_PM.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Located in in Galesburg, the Hill Correctional Center was T.J.’s home until his release in 2009.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Google Maps</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p></p><h2>Steven Drizin</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-7b0002" name="image-variant-7b0002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/faae0e4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1301x730+0+583/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FmIWj_6h5juO1BOcSyfdl6FKyFIY%3D%2F0x0%3A1301x1896%2F1301x1896%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28651x948%3A652x949%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290822%2Fmerlin_750695.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a1a88ab/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1301x730+0+583/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FmIWj_6h5juO1BOcSyfdl6FKyFIY%3D%2F0x0%3A1301x1896%2F1301x1896%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28651x948%3A652x949%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290822%2Fmerlin_750695.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c0a2394/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1301x730+0+583/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FmIWj_6h5juO1BOcSyfdl6FKyFIY%3D%2F0x0%3A1301x1896%2F1301x1896%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28651x948%3A652x949%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290822%2Fmerlin_750695.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Steven Drizin presents the case for executive clemency for William Heirens before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board at The Thompson Center" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c0a2394/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1301x730+0+583/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FmIWj_6h5juO1BOcSyfdl6FKyFIY%3D%2F0x0%3A1301x1896%2F1301x1896%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28651x948%3A652x949%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290822%2Fmerlin_750695.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/48583af/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1301x730+0+583/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FmIWj_6h5juO1BOcSyfdl6FKyFIY%3D%2F0x0%3A1301x1896%2F1301x1896%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28651x948%3A652x949%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290822%2Fmerlin_750695.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c0a2394/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1301x730+0+583/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FmIWj_6h5juO1BOcSyfdl6FKyFIY%3D%2F0x0%3A1301x1896%2F1301x1896%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28651x948%3A652x949%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290822%2Fmerlin_750695.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>In this April 4, 2002 photo, Steven Drizin, then an attorney at the Children and Family Justice Center at the Northwestern University School of Law, presents the case for executive clemency for William Heirens before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board at the Thompson Center.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>John H White/Chicago Sun-Times</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Steven Drizin is the co-director of the Northwestern University Center on Wrongful Convictions and led a legal team that researched T.J.’s murder case. The team concluded that T.J. was innocent and persuaded the Cook County state’s attorney’s office to seek his from prison in 2009.</p><h2>The Exoneration of Thaddeus Jimenez</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
<div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed>
<iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OMDPPuK6I3k?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen title="The Exoneration of Thaddeus Jimenez"></iframe>
</div>
</div></div><p>This video from Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions shows clips of T.J. walking out of prison on May 1, 2009, and hugging Victoria later at her home. Co-director Steven Drizin and his legal team discuss their work to overturn T.J.’s conviction and what it was like to see him walk out of prison a free man.</p><h2>Brian Nelson</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-7f0001" name="image-variant-7f0001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fe10110/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fx3keaEP3-FGXdZnhCR2tIS-XlzM%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290105%2Fmerlin_25386951.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5a4a3d1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fx3keaEP3-FGXdZnhCR2tIS-XlzM%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290105%2Fmerlin_25386951.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0bf2ca6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fx3keaEP3-FGXdZnhCR2tIS-XlzM%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290105%2Fmerlin_25386951.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Brian Nelson was the 13th inmate to be sent to Tamms Correctional Center in Tamms, Illinois. Nelson spent 23 hours a day in isolation and during this time he copied the Bible." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0bf2ca6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fx3keaEP3-FGXdZnhCR2tIS-XlzM%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290105%2Fmerlin_25386951.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c33a883/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fx3keaEP3-FGXdZnhCR2tIS-XlzM%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290105%2Fmerlin_25386951.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0bf2ca6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3744x2101+0+1757/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fx3keaEP3-FGXdZnhCR2tIS-XlzM%3D%2F0x0%3A3744x5616%2F3744x5616%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281872x2808%3A1873x2809%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19290105%2Fmerlin_25386951.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Brian Nelson photographed on Friday, February 24, 2012.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times Media</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Brian Nelson was the leader of the Simon City Royals in prison. He spent the last 12 years of his sentence in solitary confinement in Tamms, a super-max prison in southern Illinois. For 23 hours a day in isolation, he copied the Bible. Tamms is now closed, and Nelson now works as a a law clerk at Uptown People’s Law Center.</p><h2>An email from “Brian Nelson”</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
<div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed>
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19286869/Mystery_emailer_1.pdf"></iframe>
</div>
</div></div><p>In October 2018, Chicago Sun-Times reporter Frank Main started receiving emails from ‘Brian Nelson.’</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >‘Motive’ podcast: Who’s who</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/10/18/20914374/motive-podcast-episode-5-download-listenSun-Times2019-10-11T05:10:40-05:002019-10-11T09:35:53-05:00Motive Podcast, Episode 4: Download, listen Stitcher, Apple Podcast
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-f20001" name="image-f20001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9619fed/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1650x926+0+174/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FtG7gQA5iPAbSqkHJwMe2OMZXVvI%3D%2F0x0%3A1650x1275%2F1650x1275%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28825x638%3A826x639%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19256479%2FHoney_Baked_Ham.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d578475/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1650x926+0+174/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FtG7gQA5iPAbSqkHJwMe2OMZXVvI%3D%2F0x0%3A1650x1275%2F1650x1275%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28825x638%3A826x639%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19256479%2FHoney_Baked_Ham.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7df80e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1650x926+0+174/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FtG7gQA5iPAbSqkHJwMe2OMZXVvI%3D%2F0x0%3A1650x1275%2F1650x1275%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28825x638%3A826x639%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19256479%2FHoney_Baked_Ham.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Honey_Baked_Ham.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7df80e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1650x926+0+174/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FtG7gQA5iPAbSqkHJwMe2OMZXVvI%3D%2F0x0%3A1650x1275%2F1650x1275%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28825x638%3A826x639%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19256479%2FHoney_Baked_Ham.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/123d226/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1650x926+0+174/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FtG7gQA5iPAbSqkHJwMe2OMZXVvI%3D%2F0x0%3A1650x1275%2F1650x1275%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28825x638%3A826x639%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19256479%2FHoney_Baked_Ham.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7df80e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1650x926+0+174/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FtG7gQA5iPAbSqkHJwMe2OMZXVvI%3D%2F0x0%3A1650x1275%2F1650x1275%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28825x638%3A826x639%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19256479%2FHoney_Baked_Ham.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
</figure>
<p>It was just after dark on a cold February night in 1993 when Eric Morro was shot to death. He and a friend got into a confrontation with two other kids. They were all standing next to a Honey Baked Ham store at 3018 W. Belmont Ave. when a gun went off. Eric was killed and T.J. was arrested. Larry saw it all.</p><hr><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-3e0001" name="html-embed-module-3e0001"></a><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.wbez.org/story-embed/dcffd465-1cb9-4e1d-b28a-2c77238af716" width="100%" height="77"></iframe>
</div>
</div><p><i>You can listen to “Motive” wherever you get your podcasts, including </i><a class="Link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motive/id1479220905" target="_blank" ><i>Apple Podcasts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://pca.st/bzn1z253" target="_blank" ><i>Pocket Casts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5ymaeoUvVnSrT5CWJ04lFk" target="_blank" ><i>Spotify</i></a><i>, and </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wbez/motive" target="_blank" ><i>Stitcher</i></a><i>.</i></p><hr><p></p><h2>Motive extra features</h2><p>Get a look at the real-life people and places covered in this episode of “Motive.” Meet T.J., his mother Victoria and the family members, friends and lawyers who tell his story.</p><h2>T.J. after his 1993 arrest</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-430002" name="image-variant-430002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/192557c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1275x716+0+467/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F0t1E-2TjPiFBxhsA19QwaoIlyiU%3D%2F0x0%3A1275x1650%2F1275x1650%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28638x825%3A639x826%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16250391%2FThaddeus_Jimenez_lineup_photo_at_13_463x600.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7fbaf8c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1275x716+0+467/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F0t1E-2TjPiFBxhsA19QwaoIlyiU%3D%2F0x0%3A1275x1650%2F1275x1650%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28638x825%3A639x826%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16250391%2FThaddeus_Jimenez_lineup_photo_at_13_463x600.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9bc921e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1275x716+0+467/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F0t1E-2TjPiFBxhsA19QwaoIlyiU%3D%2F0x0%3A1275x1650%2F1275x1650%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28638x825%3A639x826%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16250391%2FThaddeus_Jimenez_lineup_photo_at_13_463x600.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez was arrested in February 1993 in the murder of Eric Morro outside the Honey Baked Ham store. T.J. was throwing gang signs on Belmont Avenue earlier that day." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9bc921e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1275x716+0+467/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F0t1E-2TjPiFBxhsA19QwaoIlyiU%3D%2F0x0%3A1275x1650%2F1275x1650%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28638x825%3A639x826%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16250391%2FThaddeus_Jimenez_lineup_photo_at_13_463x600.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3f22152/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1275x716+0+467/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F0t1E-2TjPiFBxhsA19QwaoIlyiU%3D%2F0x0%3A1275x1650%2F1275x1650%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28638x825%3A639x826%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16250391%2FThaddeus_Jimenez_lineup_photo_at_13_463x600.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9bc921e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1275x716+0+467/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F0t1E-2TjPiFBxhsA19QwaoIlyiU%3D%2F0x0%3A1275x1650%2F1275x1650%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28638x825%3A639x826%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16250391%2FThaddeus_Jimenez_lineup_photo_at_13_463x600.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Thaddeus “T.J.” Jimenez was arrested in February 1993 in the murder of Eric Morro outside the Honey Baked Ham store. T.J. was throwing gang signs on Belmont Avenue earlier that day.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Chicago police arrest photo</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p></p><h2>Larry Tueffel</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-490001" name="image-variant-490001"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45401e8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+178/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FLrxB0FfZvLZBef-TSXSay-6qXqw%3D%2F0x0%3A858x838%2F858x838%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28429x419%3A430x420%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19164339%2Funnamed__4_.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a4cb512/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+178/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FLrxB0FfZvLZBef-TSXSay-6qXqw%3D%2F0x0%3A858x838%2F858x838%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28429x419%3A430x420%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19164339%2Funnamed__4_.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4ab500d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+178/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FLrxB0FfZvLZBef-TSXSay-6qXqw%3D%2F0x0%3A858x838%2F858x838%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28429x419%3A430x420%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19164339%2Funnamed__4_.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Larry Tueffel, pictured in a still image from a video recorded deposition." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4ab500d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+178/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FLrxB0FfZvLZBef-TSXSay-6qXqw%3D%2F0x0%3A858x838%2F858x838%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28429x419%3A430x420%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19164339%2Funnamed__4_.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/85e71fe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+178/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FLrxB0FfZvLZBef-TSXSay-6qXqw%3D%2F0x0%3A858x838%2F858x838%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28429x419%3A430x420%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19164339%2Funnamed__4_.png 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4ab500d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+178/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FLrxB0FfZvLZBef-TSXSay-6qXqw%3D%2F0x0%3A858x838%2F858x838%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28429x419%3A430x420%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19164339%2Funnamed__4_.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Larry Tueffel, pictured in a still image from a video recorded deposition.</p></figcaption></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>He was with his friend Eric Morro when he was shot to death next to a Honey Baked Ham store in 1993. Tueffel didn’t initially identify Jimenez as the shooter but did after being reinterviewed by the police the next morning. In 2006, he recanted, saying he lied, that Jimenez wasn’t even there at the time of the killing.</p><p></p><h2>The Honey Baked Ham site today</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-5a0002" name="image-variant-5a0002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0c35902/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5157x2894+0+487/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFGAFlg8cvbcJaGvq0rPJ7Sg3k7U%3D%2F0x0%3A5157x3868%2F5157x3868%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282579x1934%3A2580x1935%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19278612%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_04.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9861cfa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5157x2894+0+487/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFGAFlg8cvbcJaGvq0rPJ7Sg3k7U%3D%2F0x0%3A5157x3868%2F5157x3868%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282579x1934%3A2580x1935%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19278612%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_04.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/535b71b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5157x2894+0+487/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFGAFlg8cvbcJaGvq0rPJ7Sg3k7U%3D%2F0x0%3A5157x3868%2F5157x3868%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282579x1934%3A2580x1935%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19278612%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_04.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="In 2018, construction began on new condos at the place where the Honey Baked Ham once stood at 3018 W. Belmont Ave. The alley is no longer there, but the building with the peaked roof to the right was there in 1993." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/535b71b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5157x2894+0+487/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFGAFlg8cvbcJaGvq0rPJ7Sg3k7U%3D%2F0x0%3A5157x3868%2F5157x3868%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282579x1934%3A2580x1935%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19278612%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_04.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/864a912/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5157x2894+0+487/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFGAFlg8cvbcJaGvq0rPJ7Sg3k7U%3D%2F0x0%3A5157x3868%2F5157x3868%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282579x1934%3A2580x1935%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19278612%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_04.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/535b71b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5157x2894+0+487/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FFGAFlg8cvbcJaGvq0rPJ7Sg3k7U%3D%2F0x0%3A5157x3868%2F5157x3868%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282579x1934%3A2580x1935%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19278612%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_04.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>In 2018, construction began on new condos at the place where the Honey Baked Ham once stood at 3018 W. Belmont Ave. The alley is no longer there, but the building with the peaked roof to the right was there in 1993.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p></p><h2>The corner where T.J. threw gang signs earlier</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-5f0002" name="image-variant-5f0002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/57b31c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4907x2754+0+463/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F9rbn3TewJObcevv8VW5aqPsJe7A%3D%2F0x0%3A4907x3680%2F4907x3680%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282454x1840%3A2455x1841%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19276082%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_03.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/54f8cd3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4907x2754+0+463/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F9rbn3TewJObcevv8VW5aqPsJe7A%3D%2F0x0%3A4907x3680%2F4907x3680%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282454x1840%3A2455x1841%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19276082%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_03.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cd3bd69/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4907x2754+0+463/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F9rbn3TewJObcevv8VW5aqPsJe7A%3D%2F0x0%3A4907x3680%2F4907x3680%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282454x1840%3A2455x1841%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19276082%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_03.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="MOTIVE_10XX19_03.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cd3bd69/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4907x2754+0+463/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F9rbn3TewJObcevv8VW5aqPsJe7A%3D%2F0x0%3A4907x3680%2F4907x3680%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282454x1840%3A2455x1841%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19276082%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_03.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2aa2811/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4907x2754+0+463/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F9rbn3TewJObcevv8VW5aqPsJe7A%3D%2F0x0%3A4907x3680%2F4907x3680%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282454x1840%3A2455x1841%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19276082%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_03.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cd3bd69/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4907x2754+0+463/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F9rbn3TewJObcevv8VW5aqPsJe7A%3D%2F0x0%3A4907x3680%2F4907x3680%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282454x1840%3A2455x1841%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19276082%2FMOTIVE_10XX19_03.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The northwest corner of West Belmont and North Sacramento avenues, where T.J. and his friend Larry Tueffel were throwing gang signs at a bus in 1993.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
<div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div>
<ul class="RelatedList-items">
<li class="RelatedList-items-item">
<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/20/20847638/motive-podcast-whos-who-character-map" target="_blank" >‘Motive’ podcast: Who’s who</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/10/11/20854551/motive-podcast-episode-4-download-listenSun-Times2019-10-04T01:00:01-05:002019-11-26T12:58:54-06:00Motive podcast, Episode 3: Download, listen Stitcher, Apple Podcast
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-200002" name="image-200002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/16a0375/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1123x630+39+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FzqaSjnkLWclGQWxuRnPuEXjxRCY%3D%2F0x0%3A1200x630%2F1200x630%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28598x402%3A599x403%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16044814%2Fjuvenile_center.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d7cc766/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1123x630+39+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FzqaSjnkLWclGQWxuRnPuEXjxRCY%3D%2F0x0%3A1200x630%2F1200x630%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28598x402%3A599x403%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16044814%2Fjuvenile_center.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/478fe99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1123x630+39+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FzqaSjnkLWclGQWxuRnPuEXjxRCY%3D%2F0x0%3A1200x630%2F1200x630%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28598x402%3A599x403%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16044814%2Fjuvenile_center.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Sign outside the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/478fe99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1123x630+39+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FzqaSjnkLWclGQWxuRnPuEXjxRCY%3D%2F0x0%3A1200x630%2F1200x630%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28598x402%3A599x403%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16044814%2Fjuvenile_center.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/eca2d9b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1123x630+39+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FzqaSjnkLWclGQWxuRnPuEXjxRCY%3D%2F0x0%3A1200x630%2F1200x630%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28598x402%3A599x403%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16044814%2Fjuvenile_center.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/478fe99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1123x630+39+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FzqaSjnkLWclGQWxuRnPuEXjxRCY%3D%2F0x0%3A1200x630%2F1200x630%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28598x402%3A599x403%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16044814%2Fjuvenile_center.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center where T.J. Jimenez was held before he was convicted of murder.</p></figcaption></div>
</figure>
<p>T.J. gets arrested for murder and is sent to the Audy Home, the juvenile detention center in Chicago. We see young T.J. through the eyes of a Catholic priest, Father David Kelly, and a then-journalism student, Carolyn Nielsen, who covered T.J.’s trial in 1994. A 14-year-old boy is tried as an adult for murder. </p><hr><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-0d0000" name="html-embed-module-0d0000"></a>
<iframe frameborder="0" src=" https://www.wbez.org/story-embed/57b85702-fcb1-4058-a6de-b08000d68b33" width="100%" height="77"></iframe>
</div>
</div><p><i>You can listen to “Motive” wherever you get your podcasts, including </i><a class="Link" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motive/id1479220905" target="_blank" ><i>Apple Podcasts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://pca.st/bzn1z253" target="_blank" ><i>Pocket Casts</i></a><i>, </i><a class="Link" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5ymaeoUvVnSrT5CWJ04lFk" target="_blank" ><i>Spotify</i></a><i>, and </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/wbez/motive" target="_blank" ><i>Stitcher</i></a><i>.</i></p><hr><p></p><h2>Motive extra features</h2><p>Get a look at the real-life people and places covered in this episode of “Motive.” Meet T.J., his mother Victoria and the family members, friends and lawyers who tell his story.</p><h2>Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center</h2><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-110002" name="image-variant-110002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a83c887/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2560x1437+0+242/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FxpGJGflFY-GoKgfbQjK6GgEWZ5Y%3D%2F0x0%3A2560x1920%2F2560x1920%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281280x960%3A1281x961%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19197289%2F8_17_hale_juvy_0046.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ad3d09d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2560x1437+0+242/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FxpGJGflFY-GoKgfbQjK6GgEWZ5Y%3D%2F0x0%3A2560x1920%2F2560x1920%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281280x960%3A1281x961%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19197289%2F8_17_hale_juvy_0046.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c0daa4c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2560x1437+0+242/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FxpGJGflFY-GoKgfbQjK6GgEWZ5Y%3D%2F0x0%3A2560x1920%2F2560x1920%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281280x960%3A1281x961%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19197289%2F8_17_hale_juvy_0046.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="A Cook County sheriff’s deputy is in good condition after accidentally shooting herself in the hip Jan. 29, 2020, in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c0daa4c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2560x1437+0+242/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FxpGJGflFY-GoKgfbQjK6GgEWZ5Y%3D%2F0x0%3A2560x1920%2F2560x1920%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281280x960%3A1281x961%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19197289%2F8_17_hale_juvy_0046.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/979f9bb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2560x1437+0+242/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FxpGJGflFY-GoKgfbQjK6GgEWZ5Y%3D%2F0x0%3A2560x1920%2F2560x1920%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281280x960%3A1281x961%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19197289%2F8_17_hale_juvy_0046.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c0daa4c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2560x1437+0+242/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FxpGJGflFY-GoKgfbQjK6GgEWZ5Y%3D%2F0x0%3A2560x1920%2F2560x1920%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281280x960%3A1281x961%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19197289%2F8_17_hale_juvy_0046.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Keith Hale/Sun-Times</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Also known as the Audy Home, the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center became T.J.’s new home after he was arrested for murder. Cook County has the country’s oldest juvenile court system, founded in 1899.</p><h3>Father David Kelly</h3><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-150002" name="image-variant-150002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/066a2bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/300x168+0+16/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FdsJBh2T-Zm2CcKru9UPf-wnWjw0%3D%2F0x0%3A300x200%2F300x200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28150x100%3A151x101%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19190527%2Ffr_kelly.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/649db12/2147483647/strip/true/crop/300x168+0+16/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FdsJBh2T-Zm2CcKru9UPf-wnWjw0%3D%2F0x0%3A300x200%2F300x200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28150x100%3A151x101%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19190527%2Ffr_kelly.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a4b85c4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/300x168+0+16/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FdsJBh2T-Zm2CcKru9UPf-wnWjw0%3D%2F0x0%3A300x200%2F300x200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28150x100%3A151x101%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19190527%2Ffr_kelly.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Father David Kelly" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a4b85c4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/300x168+0+16/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FdsJBh2T-Zm2CcKru9UPf-wnWjw0%3D%2F0x0%3A300x200%2F300x200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28150x100%3A151x101%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19190527%2Ffr_kelly.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8f70fca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/300x168+0+16/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FdsJBh2T-Zm2CcKru9UPf-wnWjw0%3D%2F0x0%3A300x200%2F300x200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28150x100%3A151x101%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19190527%2Ffr_kelly.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a4b85c4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/300x168+0+16/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FdsJBh2T-Zm2CcKru9UPf-wnWjw0%3D%2F0x0%3A300x200%2F300x200%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28150x100%3A151x101%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19190527%2Ffr_kelly.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Father David Kelly</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Facebook | Father David Kelly</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Father David Kelly of the Precious Blood Ministry, which serves at-risk youth, met T.J. while he was held at the Audy Home, the juvenile detention center in Chicago. Kelly, a Roman Catholic priest, has ministered to thousands of kids who were locked up, but says T.J. always stood out to him. He remembers T.J. as an engaging, articulate kid whom he met with once a week.</p><h3>Carolyn Nielsen</h3><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center>
<div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop="">
<figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-variant-190002" name="image-variant-190002"></a>
<picture data-crop="medium">
<source type="image/webp" width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/712fd92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/361x203+0+170/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhjOS-Y3RStbxvS4Jk61_VdOSvYI%3D%2F0x0%3A361x542%2F361x542%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28181x271%3A182x272%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19230040%2Fimage001.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9db268f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/361x203+0+170/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhjOS-Y3RStbxvS4Jk61_VdOSvYI%3D%2F0x0%3A361x542%2F361x542%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28181x271%3A182x272%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19230040%2Fimage001.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<source width="490"
height="275"
data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a534461/2147483647/strip/true/crop/361x203+0+170/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhjOS-Y3RStbxvS4Jk61_VdOSvYI%3D%2F0x0%3A361x542%2F361x542%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28181x271%3A182x272%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19230040%2Fimage001.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
/>
<img class="Image" alt="Carolyn Nielsen" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a534461/2147483647/strip/true/crop/361x203+0+170/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhjOS-Y3RStbxvS4Jk61_VdOSvYI%3D%2F0x0%3A361x542%2F361x542%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28181x271%3A182x272%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19230040%2Fimage001.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/65706ba/2147483647/strip/true/crop/361x203+0+170/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhjOS-Y3RStbxvS4Jk61_VdOSvYI%3D%2F0x0%3A361x542%2F361x542%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28181x271%3A182x272%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19230040%2Fimage001.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a534461/2147483647/strip/true/crop/361x203+0+170/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhjOS-Y3RStbxvS4Jk61_VdOSvYI%3D%2F0x0%3A361x542%2F361x542%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28181x271%3A182x272%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F19230040%2Fimage001.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4="
>
</picture>
<div class="Figure-content"><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Carolyn Nielsen</p></div></div>
</figure>
</div>
</div><p>Carolyn Nielsen covered T.J.’s case while earning her master’s degree in journalism at Northwestern University. She’s now an associate professor at Western Washington University’s Department of Journalism.</p><h3>Probation letter recommending T.J. be tried as an adult</h3><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
<div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed>
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19190565/TJ_referral_to_adult_court.pdf"></iframe>
</div>
</div></div><p></p><p>A probation officer was assigned to T.J. because of his numerous arrests as a kid. After T.J. was charged with murder at age 13, the probation officer recommended to a juvenile judge that T.J.’s case be transferred to adult court. The officer wanted to keep T.J. off the streets for a long, long time.</p><p></p><h3>T.J.’s letters to Elizabeth Heatley</h3><p>T.J.’s letters to his then-girlfriend offer a glimpse into his life in the Audy Home and his mental state at the time. Prosecutors in T.J.’s murder case cited the letters to Elizabeth as evidence that T.J. was directing the Simon City Royals street gang to keep Larry Tueffel from testifying against him — even if they had to kill Larry.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
<div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed>
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19176714/DX74_TJ_to_LIZ_Heatley_w__threat.pdf"></iframe>
</div>
</div></div><p></p><p>In the above letter to Elizabeth, T.J. writes, “It looks like I’ll have to kill him [Larry] myself since the Royals won’t.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item">
<div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed>
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?embedded=true&url=https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19176710/DX_75_TJ_to_Liz_Heatley.pdf"></iframe>
</div>
</div></div><p></p><p>In the above letter, T.J. worries about his safety in juvenile jail and he comments on the perfumed letter he received from Elizabeth.</p><p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/10/4/20854405/motive-podcast-episode-3-download-listenSun-Times