Jury finds convicted killer eligible for death penalty in 1983 killing of 10-year-old girl
By APWednesday, October 7, 2009
Jury says convicted killer can get death penalty
WHEATON, Ill. — An Illinois jury has decided that a convicted killer is eligible for the death penalty for the 1983 kidnapping, rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett said the jury deliberated for about an hour Wednesday before finding Brian Dugan eligible.
The sentencing hearing on whether the death penalty is the appropriate punishment for Dugan was to begin Wednesday afternoon and is expected to last four to six weeks.
Dugan pleaded guilty July 28 to the murder of Jeanine Nicarico (nihk-AIR’-ih-koh) on Feb. 25, 1983, after he abducted the girl from her home near Naperville.
He has been serving life prison sentences since 1985 for two other unrelated slayings.
