Aurora Mayor Pleads With Wayside Cross Not To Take In Kokoraleis

AURORA, IL — Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin is pleading with Wayside Cross Ministries to reconsider its commitment to accepting recently freed Ripper Crew killer Thomas Kokoraleis as a resident at its downtown Aurora facility. In a post on Facebook, Irvin said he "absolutely disagreed" with the Christian facility's choice to take in Kokoraleis, who served 35 years for raping and murdering 21-year-old Lorry Borowski in 1982.

Borowski is one of as many as 18 women whose death or disappearance Kokoraleis and the Ripper Crew have been tied to.

Irvin wrote that the city was "blindsided" when Kokoraleis registered with the Aurora Police Department as living at Wayside Cross Ministries, which is located at 215 New York St. The mayor cited the facility's "close proximity to parks, churches, and day care centers" and the "unspeakable nature" of Kokoraleis's crimes when appealing to Wayside Cross Ministries to reconsider.

Irvin recognized Wayside Cross Ministries for its contributions to the community, but said that their choice to take in Kokoraleis "suggests that they do not fully appreciate the impact Kokoraleis’ mere presence will have on the community as a whole."

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Prior to Irvin's post, Wayside Cross Ministries shared a statement on its website regarding Kokoraleis.

Executive Director James Lukose wrote:

"Wayside Cross Ministries (WCM) did not seek out Thomas Kokoraleis upon his release from prison. He came to us seeking our help. Ours being a Bible-based, Christ-centered ministry, we are mandated by our Lord Jesus Christ to love our neighbors. According to Luke 10:25-37, anyone in a genuine need is a neighbor. Almost 1/3 of the residents in our Master’s Touch program come to us immediately after being released from one of the many correctional facilities in Illinois. Some are former sex offenders. We do not discriminate. While participating in our Master’s Touch program, many of our residents have experienced permanent spiritual transformation through the power of the gospel of Christ. The Bible clearly commands us to show kindness and mercy towards all, even our enemies, the ungrateful and the wicked. This is because God, Himself is kind and merciful to all (Luke 6:35-36). As a Bible-based, Christ-centered ministry, we are also required by Scripture to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). For more than nine decades, WCM has been committed to empowering the afflicted and the powerless in collaboration with scores of local churches and hundreds of godly mentors. Recognizing that God is the source of our competence (2 Corinthians 3:5), we are called to help people like Thomas. God’s grace transcends any human depravity and wickedness. Therefore, we hope and pray that Thomas would one day return to society as a God honoring productive member, displaying the amazing transforming power of Christ. We ask you to join us in this prayer. "

Wayside Cross Ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Mayor Irvin's statement.

This is a developing story; check back with Patch for updates.