CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–April 20, 2011. A Blue Island man was charged today with the murders of three young women over the course of one year’s time between 2009 and 2010 and police and prosecutors believe the man may be a serial offender and are seeking the public’s help in providing information on other potential victims, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and law enforcement officials announced today.
Bond was denied today for Sonny Pierce, 27, who was charged with three counts of First Degree Murder in the deaths of Kiara Windom, 18, of Harvey, and Kimika Coleman, 18, of Chicago, and a third victim. Windom and Coleman were both strangled to death and their bodies were discovered dumped in alleys in Chicago and Blue Island approximately three weeks apart in August of 2009.
In recent weeks evidence has been developed showing that Pierce killed a third victim in July of 2010 and today he was also charged with the murder of Mariah Edwards, 17, also of Blue Island. In a gruesome discovery, police investigating the murder cases recovered a videotape made by Pierce that pictures him engaged in violent sexual relations with Edwards, who appears to be lifeless and possibly deceased at the time the video was taken on July 3, 2010. Edwards’ body has not been recovered by law enforcement but she was reported missing and has not been seen alive since July of 2010.
Members of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, the Blue Island Police Department, the Chicago Police Department and the State’s Attorney’s Cold Case Unit have been conducting a coordinated investigation of the murders. As a result of their efforts, police were able to link contact between Pierce and the victims through telephone records and other information developed during the course of the investigation. Pierce has also been linked to the murders of Windom and Coleman by DNA evidence recovered from the bodies of the women.
According to investigators, Pierce met victims Windom and Coleman on a telephone dating chat line or “party line,” where he arranged meetings with them. It is believed that he lured the women to his Blue Island residence and had sexual relations with them before strangling them and dumping their bodies.
Pierce has been held in custody at the Cook County Jail since August of 2010 on a separate charge for the Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault of a 15-year-old girl. In that case, Pierce is alleged to have lured the girl from outside her home into his vehicle, transported her and then dragged the victim into his residence where he choked her repeatedly until she passed out and sexually assaulted her. The girl survived the encounter and reported the assault to police, who charged Pierce in the attack shortly thereafter.
Alvarez and law enforcement officials asked for help from the public, any other potential victims who may have come in contact with Pierce, or anyone who believes their loved one may have been a potential victim to contact authorities.
The Blue Island Police Department has set up a call line for information: 708-396-7020.
The public is reminded that charging documents contain allegations that are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which the state has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: statesattorney.org
