Mar 22, 2007 11:47 pm US/Central
Man Charged In Christmas Murder Of Suburban Model
by Dana Kozlov
WHEATON, Ill. (CBS) ―
Police announced charges in the Christmas Day murder of model Lauren Kiefer who was killed in her Oakbrook Terrace home.
As CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports, Robert Rejda, 25, of Oakbrook Terrace has been in custody since Jan. 11 for unrelated drug charges and also for another alleged home invasion and rape in Aurora last October.
Thursday afternoon DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said Rejda lived less than a mile from Kiefer, 24, and had known her since grade school.
Birkett said Rejda targeted her home to rob it on Christmas Day and when Kiefer came home, Rejda allegedly viciously attacked her.
"It's alleged that during the course of those ensuing minutes, the defendant repeatedly beat Lauren with a baseball bat, crushing her skull and severely injuring other parts of her body and in the course of that attack he also sexually assaulted her.
Birkett says Rejda he targeted the home, but would not say if he targeted Kiefer.
Prosecutors also would not elaborate on any evidence linking Rejda to the crime - but suggested his arrest in another case helped them crack this one.
Kiefer's family was at the news conference Thursday. Kiefer's mother discovered her body in the home. Her father spoke, thanking investigators and stating his desire that the suspect get the death penalty if convicted.
"We can only pray that the DuPage County prosecutors will follow in their footsteps and bring an end to this individual's life," said Nick Kiefer.
No one inside Rejda's home answered the door Thursday night. Neighbors say the suspect lived with his grandmother.
"She's a really nice lady, we've known her for a long time. My wife spoke with her a while ago and she was really broken up about all the things that were happening with him," said Joel McIdoo, one of the suspect's neighbors.
Rejda is scheduled to be in court for this case on Friday.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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