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- Home
- Who is Richard Wanke?
- the Greg Clark Murder
- Diane Chavez Acquitted of all Charges on March 9, 2015!
- Feb 5 2008 Chavez Snow Parking Ticket Payment Verification
- December 19, 2014, Richard Wanke files pro se supplement to PD conflict motion
- December 19, 2014 Case Transcript
- September 18, 2014 – Public Defender Frank Perri withdraws
- Defense Motion to Dismiss & Judge Collins case associations
- Richard’s Murder Indictment
- Known Unreliability of “Eyewitness” Testimony
- About Diane Chavez
- Greg Clark Murder Trial Coverage
- Past Case Media Coverage
- The Responsibility of the Media
- Why Wrongful Convictions?
- IDOC
- Resources
- Illinois At Fiscal Crossroads
- Help Needed
- Winnebago County Jail: History, Operation, and local Issues
Why this Blog Exists
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 one person, or Richard Wanke, 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 following 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.
The Big Lie
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 Clark’s client, Richard Wanke, interrupted his weekday to drive to attorney Clark’s house across town in the middle of a colossal snowstorm wearing just a denim jacket and gray scarf to protect himself in order to shoot Clark. Since Richard was not arrested wearing those clothes later that day, we are told that he also changed his clothes. We are not supposed to find it remarkable that on that stormy day, Richard supposedly arrived at the only time that afternoon when Clark was outside snow-blowing his sidewalk and that despite having no gun or firearm experience, Richard leapt out, expertly shot Clark 3 times in the back, then quickly drove away and was home less than 20 minutes later. And, because the State has no evidence or witnesses of Richard ever threatening, arguing, abusing, harassing, or stalking Clark, we are supposed to believe court filings alone asserting that Clark was ineffective as an attorney should suffice to prove that Richard was compelled to kill Clark.
Why does this blog exist?
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 the case is in trial; the Rockford police still haven't been able to build enough of a case to prove 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 hope that the jury will recognize that NO specific evidence links either to the Clark murder and that the alleged witness identifications of Richard Wanke are false. We hope Richard Wanke is acquitted.How the Police Investigation of the Greg Clark Murder Went Astray
The scenario on Wednesday, February 8, 2008, about 1:50 pm in the afternoon: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.
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Donate to Richard’s Legal Defense Fund!
It seems only money talks when it comes to legal defense. Richard lost his income & possessions long ago and has gotten by so far working on his own with only volunteers help him now. The stakes are much higher now. If Richard Wanke is convicted he will face a multiple life term in prison. Richard will need a competent and compassionate attorney to try an unravel all the wrong which has been committed against him. Richard will also need your help and money to hire pro bono counsel or a private attorney to work for his release.
If you read this blog and either appreciate it's efforts or feel a great injustice had occurred in Richard's case, then please, reach in your pockets for a little change and throw in whatever you feel comfortable giving to Richard by pressing the donation button above. It will be used only for the legal attorneys he needs. Thank-you sincerely, and God Bless!
About the Articles on this Blog:
RichardWanke.com is written and updated by community volunteers. It's mission: publicity and assistance for the legal defense of IDOC inmate, Richard Wanke. This blog also features articles on topics affecting IL, IDOC, and IDOC inmates. Article information is gleaned from a variety of public media accounts and from other internet sources and reflects what we believe to be accurate. Readers are invited to respond and submit their own experiences.Help Investigate This Story! Support Our Spot.us campaign! See Below!
Click here to link to Richard's campaign Spot.us is a non-profit project to pioneer "community funded reporting". Through Spot.us, the public can commission investigations with tax deductible donations for important and perhaps overlooked media stories. Read this article at link to more informationIDOC Early Release & Good Time Credits About to Change!
If you are reading any of our earlier posts concerning All IDOC Early Release Programs, MGT, or Good Time, please be aware that the IL legislature has now passed new legislation replacing MGT to address giving inmates good behavior "sentence credit" which could release them early. However, the terms of who is eligible to receive sentence credit is more restrictive. Sentence credits have the potential to begin to reduce prison overcrowding, but have so far not been used to do so. IL now has a new governor who has expressed more concern with prison issues. We will wait to see what changes Bruce Rauner will make to IDOC and policy. You can read more here: (here)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
Important Email Addresses:
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
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