Cold Case: Suspect Released After Witness Testimony Fails to Hold Up in Court

Two weeks after an informant came forward with new information, are continuing to investigate a 32-year-old murder case.

Last week, Assistant Chief Steven Lucchesi said while there have been no new developments, “[police] are following up on information received and interviewing persons” in the .

Police said Taylor died after being chased by two people in the 500 block of Fenton Avenue at around 9:40 p.m. April 20, 1980. After knocking him to the ground, one of the two assailants stabbed Taylor, who was pronounced dead at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet.

Lucchesi said another Romeoville man, Michael Kempinski, was arrested shortly after the crime but was released before the case could go to trial due to lack of evidence.

According to an article published in the Beacon News in October 1980, the then-19-year-old Kempinski was freed after a Will County judge ruled that testimony from an eyewitness was inadmissible because it was obtained through hypnosis.

The newspaper reported the 21-year-old witness saw the crime happen from his truck, which was parked “some distance” from the scene. Under hypnosis, the witness reportedly recalled several details of the murder. Later, the man picked Kempinski’s photo from a book of mug shots at the Romeoville police station.

Following the judge’s ruling, Kempinski was released from the Will County jail. At the time, prosecutors said they did not have a case against the Romeoville teen without the eyewitness testimony.

Taylor, a resident of the 200 block of Belmont Drive and a 1976 graduate of , was a Marine Corps reservist. According to the Herald-News, he was last seen alive around 8:30 p.m. near Dalhart and Arlington streets the night of the murder.

Police have declined to speculate on any potential suspects in the case. Lucchesi said no new charges are pending at this time.

Anyone who might have information on the crime is asked to call Sgt. Christopher Burne at 815-886-7219.