Community Corner

Murder, Mayhem, Movie Stars and Managers -- Joliet's Top 10 in 2013

As usual, there was not shortage of stories to choose from when drafting the list of the top news of the past year.

These are the top 10 stories for Joliet in 2013, as chosen by the editors of Joliet Patch.

1.

Hickory Street murder case. The crime scene of the double-slaying that would become known as the Hickory Street murders was so disturbing that Joliet Police Chief Mike Trafton called it the most "heinous" he'd seen in his police career. Four people -- Joshua Miner, Alisa Massaro, Bethany McGee and Adam Landerman -- were charged in the strangulation deaths of Eric Glover and Terrance Rankins in mid-January. The group allegedly had sex on their victims' bodies, contemplated breaking out teeth as souvenirs, discussed cutting up the bodies for removal and partied for a day with the victims still in the house, reports said.

2.

Judge demands Patch disclose source. Details of the Hickory Street murder case being released by Patch did not sit well with defense attorneys, who sought -- and won -- a judge's order that Patch reporter Joseph Hosey disclose who supplied him with the police reports about the case. Patch has steadfastly maintained its right to protect its sources, with the backing of supporters from all over the country, and the ruling is now being appealed.

3.

Electric Daisy Carnival. The three-day electronic festival drew a crowd of more than 60,000 and netted more than $26 million in income for the city, area businesses and local labor, but it also produced a hailstorm of complaints from residents east of Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, where it was held. The Joliet City Council opted to wait for more economic details before giving its blessing to the event returning next year. Before it could do so, however, organizers said it was unlikely to come back in 2014 but might be considered in 2015.

Find out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

4.

New city manager and police chief. This was a year of upheaval for city government, with the retirement of Police Chief Mike Trafton in August after just two years in the top job, followed by the departure of City Manager Tom Thanas in November. Brian Benton, a department commander and 23-year police veteran, was chosen to succeed Trafton. Thanas, appointed to a one-year judicial term in Will County, was replaced by Jim Hock, community development director for Carpentersville. 

5.

No shortage of dramatic homicides. In addition to the Hickory Street murders, there were two cases in 2013 in which sons killed their mothers and dumped their bodies into the Des Plaines River. In May, Charles McCullum was charged in the strangulation/stabbing death of his mother, Jeanie Peters. Five months later, Shane Smith was accused of doing the same to his mother, Joan. Also of note, the arrest of Robert Meredith Jr., who was charged with beating Francis Zabala to death because the mentally handicapped man had urinated on the floor of the home they shared, and the arrest of Christopher Thompson, who's accused of shooting Gerardo Franchini to death in the crowded Louis Family Restaurant on an August Saturday morning. All told, there were nearly a dozen murders in Joliet this past year.

6.

Krokodile arrives in Joliet. Less than a week after national experts alerted medical officials to a new type of heroin-substitute drug arriving in the United States, one that causes the user's flesh to rot from the inside out, three cases were being treated at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. It's arrival here generated national headlines, and two of its victims spoke to Joliet Patch about the shocking symptoms that left gaping wounds on their limbs.

7.

No immigrant detention center. After months of public demonstrations, forums and speeches at city council meetings by people opposed to the prospect of a detention center being built here, the Corrections Corporation of America announced it was no longer interested in building such a facility in Joliet.

8.

County workers go on strike. More than 1,000 employees, represented by AFSCME Local 1028, walked off the job in November after contract talks broke down in a stalemate over pay and health benefits. Picketers walked lines at more than 20 locations, many in Joliet, for nearly a month before a compromise contract settlement was reached Dec. 3.

9.

Movie stars film in Joliet. It was pandemonium of sorts when movie stars Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis, joined by a film crew, descended on Aux Sable School in Joliet and an old farm house in Minooka to film scenes for "Jupiter Ascending." Starstruck fans waited for hours to get a glimpse of the actors and a lucky few actually got to take photos and get autographs.

10.

Illinois Youth Center shuts down. After more than a year of legal and political wrangling, Gov. Pat Quinn's order to close the Illinois Youth Center in Joliet came to fruition in February. More than 200 jobs are lost and the site is the second major institution in Joliet -- the other being the former Joliet Correctional Center -- to be idled and vacated by the state. There has been some interest expressed in potential new uses for the McDonough Street property, but none progressed beyond the talking stage in 2013. In the wake of the facility's closure, a report disclosed that the IYC had a 21 percent sex assault rate while it was open.


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