Kokoraleis Gets Visit From Exonerated Ex-Death Row Inmate Cruz

AURORA, IL — As freed Ripper Crew Killer Thomas Kokoraleis was trying to assimilate into daily life at Wayside Cross Ministries in Aurora, he got a visit from another man who became part of society after being freed from prison: former death row inmate Ronaldo Cruz. Cruz was released from prison in 1994 after he spent nearly a decade on death row for being wrongfully accused of the murder of a 10-year-old Naperville girl, Chicago Tribune reports.

Since his release, Cruz has made it his mission to help convicted murderers after they are released from prison. He's also done work to improve the criminal justice system in the wake of his own false conviction.

Cruz was exonerated due in part to DNA evidence. Despite being exonerated in the murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico, Cruz said he had a difficult time becoming part of society again.

Kokoraleis was sentenced to 70 years in prison after he was convicted of the 1982 rape and murder of Lorry Borowski, was part of the notorious Ripper Crew, which has been linked to the disappearances of as many as 18 women.

When Kokoraleis was sentenced, state laws at the time required that he only serve half of his sentence, so he was released after 35 years.

The controversy surrounding Kokoraleis's release and his current stay at Wayside Cross in downtown Aurora were part of what inspired Cruz to visit him. Chicago Tribune reports that Cruz told Kokoraleis, "[Y]ou are doing nothing wrong. You are not on parole. You are allowed to turn around and get a job and go on with your life.”

Cruz told Chicago Tribune that he hopes people will let Kokoraleis move forward with his life outside of prison.

Cruz said, "He is human and he paid his debt to society. How many times does he have to keep paying that debt?”

Read more on Patch:

• Where Is Freed Ripper Crew Killer Thomas Kokoraleis Living?
• Ripper Crew Member Who Killed Elmhurst Woman To Be Freed
• Release Delayed For Ripper Crew Member Who Killed Elmhurst Woman
• Satanic Cult Murders: Elmhurst Family Fights Ripper Crew Killer's Parole

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