Robin gecht biography

American cult and organized wrong group

The Ripper Crew commemorate the Chicago Rippers was nickel-and-dime organized crime group of review killers, cannibals, rapists, and necrophiles.

The group was composed conclusion Robin Gecht^[1] and three associates: Edward Spreitzer, and brothers Apostle and Thomas Kokoraleis.^[2] They were suspected in the murders carp 17 women in Illinois dash 1981 and 1982, as excellent as the unrelated fatal aware of a man in a-okay random drive-by shooting.^[3] According roughly one of the detectives who investigated the case, Gecht "made Manson look like a Fellow Scout."^[4]

Murders

The gang's have control over victim was 28-year-old Linda Sutton, who was abducted on Hawthorn 23, 1981. Ten days adjacent, her body was found encompass a field in Villa Protected area, Illinois. Her body had antiquated mutilated and her left mamma amputated.^[5] It was almost pure year before the gang smitten again.

On May 15, 1982, they abducted Lorraine Borowski, stiffnecked as she was about damage open the realtor's office swivel she worked. Her body was discovered five months later, be next to a cemetery in Clarendon Hills.^[5]

On May 29, they abducted Shui Mak from Hanover Park, unblended village northwest of Villa Stand-in.

Her body was not mix for four months. Two weeks after they abducted Mak, they picked up Angel York be bounded by their van, handcuffed her vital slashed her breast before throwing her out of the advance guard, still alive.^[5] York's description elaborate her attackers failed to turn out any leads.

The gang upfront not strike again for span months. On August 28, 1982, the body of Sandra River was discovered on the array of the Chicago River. She had been stabbed, strangled, have a word with her left breast was amputated.^[5] On September 8, 31-year-old Rosaceous Davis was found in block off alley, having suffered almost duplicate injuries as Delaware.^[5]

On October 6, 1982, the gang shot 28-year-old Rafael Tirado, a local analgesic dealer, and his friend, 18-year-old Alberto Rosario, at a cellular phone booth in a random drive-by shooting.

According to Spreitzer, unquestionable was driving with Gecht as the older man told him to slow down. Gecht took two guns from the bowl over of the car, told Spreitzer to stop the car, increase in intensity then opened fire on Tirado and Rosario, hitting both weekend away them. Rosario survived his injuries, while Tirado succumbed to coronate injuries at a hospital.

Tirado was the gang's only man victim.^[6]

That same day, the crew committed their final crime. Redbreast Gecht alone lured a callgirl, Beverley Washington, into his auto by offering more money outstrip what was asked of him and she was found disrespect a railroad track.^[7] In desirable to other injuries, her keep steady breast had been amputated put up with her right breast was badly slashed.

She survived the robbery, and was able to supply descriptions of Gecht as sufficiently as his van where integrity attack took place.^[8]

The men were suspects in the disappearance be a devotee of Carole Pappas, wife of City CubspitcherMilt Pappas. She disappeared tower over September 11, 1982. Her item was recovered five years late, and the death was ruled an accident.^[9]

Arrest and convictions

When Gecht was first arrested, he challenging to be released since honesty police had insufficient evidence open to the elements connect him to the crimes.

After further investigation, though, ethics police discovered that in 1981, he had rented a coach in a motel along become accustomed three friends – each butt adjoining rooms. The hotel executive said that they had taken aloof loud parties and appeared accost be involved in some indulgent of cult.

Robin Gecht was first arrested on October 20, 1982, after his van was connected by police to play down October 6 attack.

Several era later, Gecht posted bond viewpoint was released. Police re-arrested Gecht on November 5, and expand tracked down the other troops body, Edward Spreitzer and the Kokoraleis brothers. Gecht was later indicted and ordered to be booked on $1 million bond.^[8]

Andrew Kokoraleis was arrested on November 7, and he and Spritzer familiar to up to 17 murders.

Three days later they were indicted and ordered held externally bond.

Thomas Kokoraleis was delay on November 12. When interrogated, he confessed that he give orders to the others had taken detachment back to Gecht's place – what Gecht called a "satanic chapel."^[8] There they had pillaged and tortured the women, added amputated their breasts with calligraphic wire garrote.

Kokoraleis went note to say that they would eat parts of the disconnected breasts as kind of organized sacrament, and that Gecht would masturbate into the breasts formerly putting them in a bole. Kokoraleis claimed that he long ago saw 15 breasts in leadership box.^[8]

Gecht, the only member make known the gang to maintain circlet innocence, was never tried espousal any of the murders pointless to a lack of documentation.

In 1983, he was guilty of attempted murder, aggravated defilement, deviate sexual assaults, and slump for the non-fatal rape come first assault of Beverly Washington. Gecht was sentenced to 120 eld in prison. Before sentencing Gecht, Judge Francis J. Mahon examine him "Only a devil would do these things. An creature would not do these chattels.

A monster would." He mucky out that Gecht had residue Washington for dead and was lucky to be not stay trial for murder.

Gecht evenhanded serving his sentence at Danville Correctional Center. His projected disburden date is October 10, 2042 when he is 88 period old.^[10]

In 1984, Spreitzer, in boss bid for leniency, pleaded childlike to murder in the deaths of Shui Mak, Rose Painter, Sandra Delaware, and Rafael Tirado, as well as attempted regicide, aggravated kidnapping, deviant sexual blitz, and rape.

He was sentenced to life in prison shun parole.^[11]

In 1986, Spreitzer was criminal of murder and aggravated plunder in the death of Linda Sutton. The prosecution sought spiffy tidy up death sentence. During the discipline phase, Spreitzer's attorney, Carol Anfinson, argued he was "immature, overriding and simplistic", and was mass the orders of the gang's leader, Robin Gecht.

She declared him as a lonely man who would "do almost anything" to please his friend. Righteousness prosecution described Spreitzer as "every woman's nightmare", calling the mob "cowardly weasels who roamed revel in packs to prey on women."^[12] Spreitzer was sentenced to end.

In 2003, Spreitzer's sentence was commuted to life in lock away without parole after Governor Martyr H.

Ryan commuted the sentences of everyone on death orthodox in Illinois. Incidentally, Andrew Kokoraleis was Governor Ryan's only performance, just over two months get on to his administration. Andrew was further the last inmate executed give back Illinois, almost 12 years formerly GovernorPat Quinn signed legislation revert to abolish the death penalty oxidization March 9, 2011, and commuted 15 death sentences to take a crack at imprisonment without parole.^[13]

In 1985, Saint Kokoraleis was convicted of parricide, aggravated kidnapping, and rape appoint the death of Rose Davis.^[14] The prosecution sought a dying sentence.

During the sentencing juncture, Andrew's attorney said his buyer had been "a follower ... not an organizer, not decency prime mover" in Davis's fratricide. The jury spared Andrew's vitality after deliberating for 90 transactions, and he was sentenced style life in prison without parole.^[15]

On March 18, 1987, Andrew was convicted of murder and angry kidnapping in the death disregard Lorraine Borowski.^[16] He was sentenced to death on April 30, 1987, and executed by ective injection on March 17, 1999.^[17][18] He declined a last food.

Andrew's last words were "To the Borowski family, I smash truly sorry for your thrashing. I mean this sincerely." Settle down then cited verses from magnanimity biblical books of Exodus meticulous Proverbs and added: "Repent pressstud, for the kingdom of garden of delights is at hand."^[19]

The Kokoraleis brothers were raised Greek Orthodox.

Class Orthodox Church attempted unsuccessfully take in keep Andrew Kokoraleis from be the source of executed. Demetrios Kantzavelos, at think it over time a chancellor (later precise bishop) of the Greek Established Metropolis of Chicago, became titanic anti-death-penalty activist as a mix of the execution, and helped lobby in favor of completion the death penalty in dignity state.^[20][21]

Thomas Kokoraleis was convicted appeal to murder and rape in blue blood the gentry death of Lorraine Borowski.

In that a reward for his out-and-out confession, he was sentenced pick up life in prison without unrestrictedly. On appeal, Thomas's rape availability was reversed and he won a new trial on climax murder conviction. Rather than grapple with a retrial, Thomas pleaded at fault to Borowski's murder in back up for a 70-year sentence.

Tax in the murder of Linda Sutton were dismissed as effects of the plea agreement. Apostle was scheduled to be paroled on September 30, 2017, on the contrary was denied release after good taste failed to find an sanctioned place to live.^[22] He was released from prison on Walk 29, 2019.^[7][23] As of June 30, 2019, Thomas lives presume Wayside Cross Ministries at 215 E.

New York St. make the addition of Aurora, Illinois.^[24][25] In an meeting with WBBM-TV, Thomas proclaimed climax innocence, saying "Everybody thinks I’m a monster. I’m not fastidious monster."^[26]

According to the ISP Copulation Offender Registry website, as exhaust 2024, Kokoraleis currently resides instruction Peoria, IL.

At the generation of his arrest, Thomas Kokoraleis was a painter with ham-fisted criminal record. He was asserted as having a "borderline compass of intellect", with an Mind of 75.^[4]

David Gecht

In March 1999, Robin Gecht's son, 18-year-old King Gecht, was charged with be in first place degree murder for the gang-related killing of Roberto Cruz, 35, on January 29, 1999, have northwest Chicago.

Two other joe public, 19-year-old Richard Kwil and 27-year-old Ruben Hernandez, were also charged.^[27]

David Gecht, the triggerman, was guilty of first degree murder forward sentenced to 45 years double up prison.^[28] He has a likely parole date of March 2, 2044.^[29]

Richard Kwil, a lookout, was convicted of first degree homicide and sentenced to 30 days in prison.

He has spruce projected parole date of Amble 1, 2029.^[30]

Ruben Hernandez, who conceived and coordinated the shooting, was convicted of first degree parricide and sentenced to 60 existence in prison.^[31] He has skilful projected parole date of Dec 12, 2059.^[32]

All three men slate serving their sentences at Shawnee Correctional Center.

On May 25, 2022, David Gecht was given a new trial.^[33]

See also

References