http://www.wifr.com/content/news/Rockford-mayoral-candidates-417885523.html
The February 6, 2008, murder of Attorney Gregory Clark remains the highest-profile, murder case in Rockford, IL and Winnebago County, IL. Despite the April 2014 arrest and then March 2017 conviction by jury of Richard Wanke, the murder remains listed as unsolved on the Rockford Police Department website, a fact which one can construe as an admission by local authorities that they know that Richard Wanke, did not murder Greg Clark and that one person could not have committed this murder alone. We, friends, family, and supporters of Richard Wanke, know that he is innocence and was wrongly convicted of Attorney Greg Clark’s murder by the false scenario presented at trial by both police and State’s Attorney, Joseph Bruscato’s prosecutors. We ask you to read this blog and join us now in support of Richard Wanke.
Over 8,000 pages and 200 individual Rockford police reports comprise the massive police investigation of attorney Greg Clark’s murder and show it to be flawed from the outset.
Richard Wanke and Diane Chavez were both thoroughly investigated for years in ways police seldom have time to investigate any suspects. Their mail was intercepted; their email and social media accounts searched, their friends and associates were tracked down and interviewed, their phone records obtained, their finances examined, their physical property seized, searched, and tested. Last, the police intercepted and monitored the hundreds of phone conversations, video visitations, and all mail exchanged between them from 2008 to present. The results of this massive criminal investigation show nothing; no DNA, no fingerprints, no weapon, no gunpowder residue, no questionable contacts or associations or phone records, no incriminating conversations or admissions, no transactions: nothing, zilch….
What is the big lie? It is the State’s assertion that this case is simple: that it was Clark’s client, Richard Wanke, who interrupted his weekday to drive to attorney Clark’s house across town in the middle of a colossal snowstorm wearing inadequate clothing to shoot Greg Clark and kill him. Richard was not arrested wearing those clothes later that day, and we are simply told that he must have changed his clothes. We’re not supposed to question how on that stormy day, Richard could possibly have arrived at the only time that afternoon when Clark was outside snow-blowing his sidewalk and that, despite having no gun or firearm experience, expertly shoot Clark 3 times in the back, then quickly drive away and be home less than 20 minutes later. And, because the State has no forensic evidence or witnesses of Richard ever threatening, arguing, abusing, harassing, or stalking Clark, or even being violent towards anyone, we are supposed to believe that ordinary court filings asserting that Clark was ineffective as an attorney suffice to prove that Richard was motivated to kill Clark.
On February 6, 2008, our friends, Richard Wanke and Diane Chavez, were arrested in alleged connection to the murder of local attorney, Gregory Clark. The vague scenario the Rockford police have submitted is problematic and more than 9 years later Rockford police still haven’t proven that Richard or Diane (or anyone else) committed this murder. It is still listed as unsolved by the Rockford Police Department.We know Richard and Diane as gentle people; local community activists, who routinely participate in volunteer projects in the community. We want the public to recognize that NO evidence links either to the Clark murder, and the alleged witness identifications of Richard Wanke are false. We support Richard Wanke and hope that he can overturn his wrongful conviction.
The snow fall in Rockford, Illinois began the evening before and continued throughout the day. The snow accumulation was the heaviest experienced by the city in 10 years. The snowfall was so heavy that most businesses and all offices closed early or never opened, and for the first time in memory mail delivery did not even occur. At 1:50 pm, snow on the streets reached above car bumper level and visibility was poor.
What happened: News media report that at 1:50 pm, attorney Greg Clark was home at his house in a quiet neighborhood on the east side of Rockford. According to the RRSTAR's latest summation of events from 2008: "A gunman springs from a van and opens fire, killing Gregory Clark, a Rockford attorney, who is clearing snow from his sidewalk." Clark was brutally shot in the back three times by an unknown shooter. He was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later.
News accounts and subsequent police action show that more than one perpetrator actively participated at Clark's shooting. Media reports show the police immediately focused upon Richard Wanke because of what they thought of him and not because of any of the evidence found at the murder site.
The news reporter was told the next day that the police did not believe he shot Clark, but just that he was somehow involved. Subsequent questioning of Richard's acquaintances showed the police asking questions indicating they sought information about at least one other person other than Richard.
Sentence credits are more restrictive in accordance with the suggestions contained in the Erickson Report. You can read the Erickson Report and IDOC's official plan for implementing MGT (here).
We also urge readers to check these online sites: (ILprisontalk.com), and the (John Howard Association), for other information
Send a letter with your thoughts or questions to Richard Wanke. (If you want a reply, you must include your name and a regular mailing address.) freerichardwanke@gmail.com, or snailmail (and it is slow):
Richard Wanke, 20605 Winnebago County Jail 650 W. State St. Rockford, IL. 61102
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Express your frustration about IDOC, prison issues, or anything else to your IL State Representative or IL State Senator! Use this link to email them directly!: (Rep or Senator here)
Send your thoughts to Congress!
Thanks to reader prisonrightsadvocate, for letting us know of the following weblinks which you can use to directly email our US Rep, Don Manzullo and State Senator, Dick Durbin
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Send an opinion letter to the Rockford Register Star. (To be printed it must be less than 200 words, with name, address, and daytime phone number.) Opinions@RRStar.com
Send an opinion letter to the Rock River Times. rrtimes@rworld.com
Have you experienced problems with the Winnebago County legal system? Please write a short story about your incident for us to post. You can choose to add your name, or not. freerichardwanke@gmail.com