Police Reopen Cold Case Murder from 1980

Thirty-two years after his death, are reopening the investigation into the murder of Ronald B. Taylor, a 22-year-old who was stabbed to death in 1980.

Investigators are taking another look at the case after an informant recently came to police with new information on the crime.

“To reopen a case, you have to have something you feel can advance the case,” Assistant Police Chief Steven Lucchesi said. “And we feel we can.”

Around 9:40 p.m. April 20, 1980, Taylor was chased by two people in the 500 block of Fenton, Lucchesi said. The assailants took him to the ground, and one of them stabbed Taylor, who was later pronounced dead at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet.

According to the Herald-News, Taylor was last seen alive around 8:30 p.m. at the at Dalhart and Arlington streets. The 22-year-old was a member of the Marine Corps Reserves and a 1976 graduate of . 

Back in 1980, police made an arrest in the murder. But the suspect, 18-year-old Michael Kempinski, was released due to insufficient evidence before the case could be brought to trial, police said.

No new charges are pending in the case, Lucchesi said, adding, "I can't really speculate on any suspect information."

“Based on the information that was brought forward, we’ve reopened the case,” he said.

Police are asking anyone who has any information on the decades-old crime to come forward and contact Sgt. Christopher Burne at 815-886-7219.

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