Suspects accused of robbing, killing and attempting to dismember 2 friends in Illinois

 Posted on February 08, 2013 in Violent Crime

A recent case of four young adults accused of strangling two of their friends and attempting to dismember their bodies will be prosecuted by the Will County state’s attorney because he said it is so “heinous.”

Investigators shared that when cops arrived at the house in which the victims’ lifeless bodies were found, three of the suspects were found playing video games.

Joshua Miner, 24; Alisa Massaro, 18; Bethany McKee, 18; and Ada, Landerman, 19, whose mother is a Joliet police sergeant, are facing first-degree murder charges.

According to police, the group phoned Eric Glover and Terrance Rankin, both 22, and invited them over to Massaro’s home before robbing and killing their own friends.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that according to authorities, the suspects wanted to dismember the men, but the Will County coroner said that the bodies were found whole.

When police got to the home Massaro, Miner and Landerman were all there. They later picked up McKee.

When family members had not heard from the victims, they called the police, who learned that a friend had recently talked to the victims and said that they were with the group.

Circuit Court Judge Roger Rickmon upheld a bail for the four suspects at $10 million and their next court date is scheduled for Feb. 5.

Miner has the most extensive criminal record according to Sun-Times. Previously, he has pleaded guilty to unauthorized videotaping involving child pornography when he was 16 and three years ago, he was also convicted of a burglary before being ordered to a state boot camp.

Miner’s mother, Melodie Miner stood by her son, teller The Herald News that “There’s no way my son can do this.”

George Lefridge, a friend of the victims said, “You just don’t wake up in the morning and say, ‘Yeah I’m fixing to go behead somebody, or chop somebody up.’ This is something that had been brewing in their system for a long time.”

Lefridge said that he suspected drugs were involved, although police have yet to release a motive for the murders.

Bill McKee, father of suspect Bethany McKee, gave condolences to the victims’ families outside of the court saying, “This is a surprise to us, no matter what anyone says. We’re giving it to God at this point.”

These young adults have found themselves in deep trouble, with what seems to be no way out. If you find yourself in trouble from a crime you may or may not have committed, hopefully of a lesser extent, contact a criminal attorney. Contact the law office of Chris Cosley in Arlington Heights, Illinois today.