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Nov 19, 2008 11:48 am US/Central
Possible Bond For Suspect In Girls' 2005 Slayings
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (Lake County News-Sun) ―
A Lake County judge is expected to rule next month on whether bond will be set for Jerry Hobbs, based on evidence that shows another man's DNA at the scene where Hobbs' daughter and her friend were found slain in 2005.
Citing semen found at the scene that doesn't match Hobbs' DNA profile, defense attorneys last week filed a motion to have Judge Fred Foreman grant Hobbs a bond.
The Zion man, now 38, has been held in the Lake County Jail without bond since May 2005, when he was arrested for the Mother's Day killings of his daughter, Laura, 8, and her friend, Krystal Tobias, 9. The girls' bodies were found in the Beulah Park Nature Area in Zion.
Hobbs admitted to the murders shortly after his arrest, but has since rescinded that confession.
In August 2007, defense attorneys learned of evidence that showed semen from an unknown man was found at the scene. But it wasn't until last week that the defense filed a motion concerning the evidence.
In addition to asking to reconsider bond, the attorneys also asked to have the semen checked against DNA in a state and national database. Assistant State's Attorney Jeff Pavletic said the DNA was sent for cross-referencing.
Foreman said Tuesday he will consider bond at a Dec. 2 hearing. The DNA database results are also expected that day.
The timing of the filings perturbed Assistant State's Attorney Mike Mermel, who accused the defense of trying to use the media to their advantage.
"It just seems very curious that all of a sudden I started getting calls from all the media," Mermel said.
Defense attorneys on Tuesday denied informing Chicago media about the court documents, which were filed Nov. 12.
Mermel said after Tuesday's hearing that the defense's motion was "unworthy of comment," adding that he thought it was done by attorneys who were "probably just trying to contaminate the jury pool."
Hobbs is scheduled to go to trial on April 30.
(CBS 2 and the Lake County News-Sun are news partners covering stories in the north suburbs. Send story tips to tips@cbs2chicago.com. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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