IL IL - Lane Bryant Store Murders, Tinley Park, 2 Feb 2008

[kemo]

STL, I think you got it about right. A “business takeover” may have been the plan all along. My initial thinking was that the plan was to get the cash from the safe before it was taken to the bank. They may have gotten opening time wrong. What never made sense was the “get away” vehicle taking so long to show up.

If this was just a “takeover robbery” a shop with only women customers makes sense. You wouldn’t expect to net that much but armed robberies often don’t. They are fairly easy to get away with so long as no one is recognized, no license written down and no fingerprints are left. A suburban PD isn’t likely to be able to invest a lot of resources in an investigation. Killing 4 people was almost certainly a “screw up”, the guy may have panicked and blew it.

I think the lesson here is that when confronted fly an armed robber, do what they say and don’t try to be a hero.

 

[STLSuperstar]

STL, I think you got it about right. A “business takeover” may have been the plan all along. My initial thinking was that the plan was to get the cash from the safe before it was taken to the bank. They may have gotten opening time wrong. What never made sense was the “get away” vehicle taking so long to show up.

If this was just a “takeover robbery” a shop with only women customers makes sense. You wouldn’t expect to net that much but armed robberies often don’t. They are fairly easy to get away with so long as no one is recognized, no license written down and no fingerprints are left. A suburban PD isn’t likely to be able to invest a lot of resources in an investigation. Killing 4 people was almost certainly a “screw up”, the guy may have panicked and blew it.

I think the lesson here is that when confronted fly an armed robber, do what they say and don’t try to be a hero.

That all makes sense. I agree that the plan was probably to get case from the safe before it was deposited. That's why I think if he had inside knowledge or an insider helping, then he would have known to come earlier to catch the person making the deposit.

Yeah. I'm not sure about why the getaway vehicle came so late. That's a good point. Maybe it was camped out around the corner out of view of the camera and pulled around when the police were getting close?

 

[jbirner]

That all makes sense. I agree that the plan was probably to get case from the safe before it was deposited. That's why I think if he had inside knowledge or an insider helping, then he would have known to come earlier to catch the person making the deposit.

Yeah. I'm not sure about why the getaway vehicle came so late. That's a good point. Maybe it was camped out around the corner out of view of the camera and pulled around when the police were getting close?

I think the accomplice/getaway driver was there all along but was staging away from the store at first. Maybe they thought it would look suspicious to have a vehicle sitting in front of the store for an extended period of time. And maybe by staying farther back he could see the parking lot better. IMO, the cop showing up in the parking lot altered the plan slightly, perhaps making the accomplice pull up to the store and went in to tell the shooter that they needed to go quick because there was a cop a few hundred feet away. During this time is when Rhoda breaks free, calls 911 and we know what happened from there.

 

[Warwick1991]

STL, I think you got it about right. A “business takeover” may have been the plan all along. My initial thinking was that the plan was to get the cash from the safe before it was taken to the bank. They may have gotten opening time wrong. What never made sense was the “get away” vehicle taking so long to show up.

If this was just a “takeover robbery” a shop with only women customers makes sense. You wouldn’t expect to net that much but armed robberies often don’t. They are fairly easy to get away with so long as no one is recognized, no license written down and no fingerprints are left. A suburban PD isn’t likely to be able to invest a lot of resources in an investigation. Killing 4 people was almost certainly a “screw up”, the guy may have panicked and blew it.

I think the lesson here is that when confronted fly an armed robber, do what they say and don’t try to be a hero.

I think there are situations where it is worth trying to escape or fight, especially if the armed assailant/robber starts blindfolding, binding and sequestering victims. There are a number of situations I've read about - restaurant robberies, convenience store robberies and other cases - where such immobilization and control of victims away from the public eye was the first step in murdering 1 or more people. I'm not in any way blaming the victims, either at Lane Bryant or elsewhere. It is easier said than done to escape or fight in what is essentially a hostage situation.

 

[SpringDonut77]

New doc on 2008 Lane Bryant mass shooting could spur fresh leads, filmmaker hopes

Eighteen years later, the shooting that left five women dead at a women's clothing store in Tinley Park remains unsolved.

www.wbez.org

 

[jbirner]

I'm looking forward to seeing this documentary but also disappointed that the TP police would not participate. I'm not sure what they have to lose after 18 years of no activity. I hope there is a good reason and someday they will shock us all with some major break in the case, but I have no faith that is going to happen. Maybe this film will spark conversation like Charlie Minn said.

 

[Danaya]

It was the police’s theory that the guy planned on robbing the customers as they came into the store. Then he planned on putting them with the others in the back room. I linked the best long form article that’s been written on the case earlier in the thread, which includes the direct quote from an investigator. It’s not a new theory. I think he had experience doing robberies and thought he could get more by robbing customers too. Probably on drugs or something, needing fast cash and all. Then he panicked.

 

[moonglow123]

Another case that deserves way more media attention. Has to be one of the only unsolved mass shootings.

I always thought someone must’ve known who did it but just chose not to report it. Specifically because of the beads in his (or her?) hair, and a recording of their voice being available.

The beads are a pretty distinctive and unique detail. Four light green beads on one side of their head. You’d know immediately if that was your friend or family member. Even 18 years on, feel like you’d remember if your uncle or sibling or friend had that hairstyle (plus the bejeweled jeans), or would’ve captured it in a photo at some point.

Sad it’s still unsolved.

 

[libralyze]

Here is a brief review of the cold case:

Lane Bryant murders: Tinley Park shooting deaths of 5 women remain a cold case 18 years later; new documentary comes out next week | abc7chicago.com

The%20Tinley%20Park%20Lane%20Bryant%20shooting%20deaths%20of%20Carrie%20Chiuso%2C%20Rhoda%20McFarland%2C%20Connie%20Woolfolk%2C%20Sarah%20Szafranski%2C%20and%20Jennifer%20Bishop%20remain%20unsolved.

abc7chicago.com

Fast forward to present day:

This case is coming back to light as Monday, February 2nd 2026 was exactly 18 years since this massacre took place.
February 13, 2026 a new documentary is due to be released on this case to help bring publicity to it yet again for the hopes of it being solved.

Just 28 miles away, on this exact same day 18 years later, February 2, 2026, there was a very similar “robbery” that had taken place in Momence, IL, Kankakee county.

Here is a link to the case:

Julius E. Burkes Jr. arrested in Momence murder of Courtney Drysdale at The Line bar: Kankakee County Sheriff's Office | abc7chicago.com

Julius%20E.%20Burkes%20Jr.%20is%20arrested%20for%20the%20murder%20of%20The%20Line%20bar%20owner%20Courtney%20Drysdale%2C%20Momence%2C%20IL%20woman%20who%20was%20found%20dead%20Monday.

abc7chicago.com

The strange similarities include:

1. Being a “robbery” that is during the opening of a business… why rob a store that hasn’t had any sales or business yet (unless of course the motive is to kill)

2. In the Momence case, the suspect shot the victim twice despite her complying with demands for money

3. The killer of this recent case fits the description of the 2008 murders considering he would have been right in that age bracket during this time

4. This happens the same exact day as the massacre in Tinley Park just 18 years later

5. The woman was shot execution style as was the Tinley park 5

6. In the Tinley Park Case it is known there are no surveillance or image captures but today as we know there is an abundance of surveillance,
In the Momence muder, the recorded video was released to the public, the murderer glances at the camera and it is said on his way out he had taken a camera with him - to take that evidence - but he had supposedly taken the wrong camera thankfully.

Let me know what you guys think

 

[jbirner]

Here is a brief review of the cold case:

Lane Bryant murders: Tinley Park shooting deaths of 5 women remain a cold case 18 years later; new documentary comes out next week | abc7chicago.com

The%20Tinley%20Park%20Lane%20Bryant%20shooting%20deaths%20of%20Carrie%20Chiuso%2C%20Rhoda%20McFarland%2C%20Connie%20Woolfolk%2C%20Sarah%20Szafranski%2C%20and%20Jennifer%20Bishop%20remain%20unsolved.

abc7chicago.com

Fast forward to present day:

This case is coming back to light as Monday, February 2nd 2026 was exactly 18 years since this massacre took place.
February 13, 2026 a new documentary is due to be released on this case to help bring publicity to it yet again for the hopes of it being solved.

Just 28 miles away, on this exact same day 18 years later, February 2, 2026, there was a very similar “robbery” that had taken place in Momence, IL, Kankakee county.

Here is a link to the case:

Julius E. Burkes Jr. arrested in Momence murder of Courtney Drysdale at The Line bar: Kankakee County Sheriff's Office | abc7chicago.com

Julius%20E.%20Burkes%20Jr.%20is%20arrested%20for%20the%20murder%20of%20The%20Line%20bar%20owner%20Courtney%20Drysdale%2C%20Momence%2C%20IL%20woman%20who%20was%20found%20dead%20Monday.

abc7chicago.com

The strange similarities include:

1. Being a “robbery” that is during the opening of a business… why rob a store that hasn’t had any sales or business yet (unless of course the motive is to kill)

2. In the Momence case, the suspect shot the victim twice despite her complying with demands for money

3. The killer of this recent case fits the description of the 2008 murders considering he would have been right in that age bracket during this time

4. This happens the same exact day as the massacre in Tinley Park just 18 years later

5. The woman was shot execution style as was the Tinley park 5

6. In the Tinley Park Case it is known there are no surveillance or image captures but today as we know there is an abundance of surveillance,
In the Momence muder, the recorded video was released to the public, the murderer glances at the camera and it is said on his way out he had taken a camera with him - to take that evidence - but he had supposedly taken the wrong camera thankfully.

Let me know what you guys think

There a certainly many similarities in both crimes. I would like to see a photo of this suspect from 18 years ago, or even 10 years ago. Definitely the right age. I would find it to be a little crazy that the same guy would do a very similar crime one the same date in the same area as the LB murders.

 

[moonglow123]

Here is a brief review of the cold case:

Lane Bryant murders: Tinley Park shooting deaths of 5 women remain a cold case 18 years later; new documentary comes out next week | abc7chicago.com

The%20Tinley%20Park%20Lane%20Bryant%20shooting%20deaths%20of%20Carrie%20Chiuso%2C%20Rhoda%20McFarland%2C%20Connie%20Woolfolk%2C%20Sarah%20Szafranski%2C%20and%20Jennifer%20Bishop%20remain%20unsolved.

abc7chicago.com

Fast forward to present day:

This case is coming back to light as Monday, February 2nd 2026 was exactly 18 years since this massacre took place.
February 13, 2026 a new documentary is due to be released on this case to help bring publicity to it yet again for the hopes of it being solved.

Just 28 miles away, on this exact same day 18 years later, February 2, 2026, there was a very similar “robbery” that had taken place in Momence, IL, Kankakee county.

Here is a link to the case:

Julius E. Burkes Jr. arrested in Momence murder of Courtney Drysdale at The Line bar: Kankakee County Sheriff's Office | abc7chicago.com

Julius%20E.%20Burkes%20Jr.%20is%20arrested%20for%20the%20murder%20of%20The%20Line%20bar%20owner%20Courtney%20Drysdale%2C%20Momence%2C%20IL%20woman%20who%20was%20found%20dead%20Monday.

abc7chicago.com

The strange similarities include:

1. Being a “robbery” that is during the opening of a business… why rob a store that hasn’t had any sales or business yet (unless of course the motive is to kill)

2. In the Momence case, the suspect shot the victim twice despite her complying with demands for money

3. The killer of this recent case fits the description of the 2008 murders considering he would have been right in that age bracket during this time

4. This happens the same exact day as the massacre in Tinley Park just 18 years later

5. The woman was shot execution style as was the Tinley park 5

6. In the Tinley Park Case it is known there are no surveillance or image captures but today as we know there is an abundance of surveillance,
In the Momence muder, the recorded video was released to the public, the murderer glances at the camera and it is said on his way out he had taken a camera with him - to take that evidence - but he had supposedly taken the wrong camera thankfully.

Let me know what you guys think

Wow. You may very well be onto something. Agree that he's the right age range. He's from Hammond, which is only 20 miles from Tinley Park. And this crime is pretty similar to the Lane Bryant murders in every way you mentioned. I hope LE thinks of or explores this potential connection, good catch.