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- 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
Attorney Desperately Needed!!!
Since 2008, the murder of Attorney Gregory Clark has been the single highest-profile unsolved murder in Winnebago County, IL and an overall priority case statewide. Despite the charging of Richard Wanke, the murder is still considered unsolved by local authorities and the Rockford Police Department. Richard Wanke’s prosecution is the highest-profile criminal case prosecution in Winnebago County followed closely by local media. Richard Wanke cannot receive an impartial trial in the Rockford community since he has been castigated in the local media and community electoral politics, and by consensus in the legal community now since 2008.
Richard has past conflicts with the Winnebago County Public Defender’s office, which is assigned to represent him. In our opinion he should have conflict counsel appointed to represent him instead, but that has not happened. Richard is going to trial now, and the Winnebago County Public Defender's office did not hire any experts on his behalf or even independently test any of the evidence. It's investigation of his case has been minimal. The Winnebago County Public Defender's office seems more concerned with not spending any money on Richard's defense than representing him properly. We will see if Richard will be convicted at trial due to his attorneys presenting only a minimal defense. If so, it will validate the views expressed by many attorneys that Richard Wanke stands no chance for an impartial trial if it takes place in Winnebago County and if he is represented by local attorneys.
If there is the possibility that you can offer any assistance, please call Diane at (779) 348-2487, immediately! Thank-you!
Seven Years of Injustice!
Read our summarization of the events of the 9 year investigation and our perspective as to why the allegations made against Richard Wanke, and Diane Chavez, are wrong. Please click on the pull down tab for "Who is Richard Wanke" in the top left center area of this page to read why we believe the investigation went astray and Richard Wanke acquitted!Massive Clark Murder Investigation Fails to Link Richard or Diane
The State's evidence comprising it's case against Richard and Diane (consisting of over 8,000 pages containing over 200 individual Rockford police reports and evidence summations) has been reviewed by authoritative sources who found nothing contained in that information to link either Richard or Diane to any involvement in Clark's murder other than the so-called "witness reports" in February 2008, which were improperly influence by media coverage at the time. Both Richard Wanke and Diane Chavez have had their lives turned upside down by the Clark murder and it's long investigation. They have been thoroughly investigated as police seldom have time to do. Their mail has been intercepted; their email and social media accounts searched, their friends and associates have been tracked and interviewed, their phone records obtained, their finances examined, and their physical property seized, searched, and tested. The results reveal nothing; no DNA, no fingerprints, no weapon, no gunpowder residue, no questionable contacts or associates, phone records, or transactions: nothing, zilch....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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