DNA Proves Marni Yang Wasn't At Murder Scene: Lawyer

DEERFIELD, IL — The lawyer for convicted murderer Marni Yang believes new DNA evidence from the crime scene proves his client is innocent. Jed Stone, who did not represent Yang during her 2011 murder trial in the death of Deerfield resident Rhoni Reuter and her unborn daughter, discussed Thursday new DNA and fingerprint results recently released by state prosecutors.

"Let us be clear, Marni Yang's fingerprints are nowhere at the crime scene. She wasn't there. She is innocent," Stone said during a morning press conference. "Marni Yang's DNA is nowhere at the crime scene."

Yang is serving two life sentences at the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln. Reuter was the girlfriend of former Chicago Bears player Shaun Gayle at the time of her death. Gayle, who played on the 1985 Super Bowl championship team, testified during Yang's trial that he was romantically involved with both women, admitting he had sex with Yang the night before Reuter's death.

"We are not going to litigate this in the media. However, we remind everyone that evidence relesed at trial shows that Mrs. Yang, or Ms. Yang, made statements she wore gloves during the murder," Lee Filas, communications manager for the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, told Patch.

Stone said male DNA discovered at the crime scene, originally attributed to the prosecution's tool marks expert, Peter Stripatis, have now ruled him out as a contributor to the male DNA recovered from the live rounds of ammunition found there. Stone contends Stripatis admittedly handled the rounds without gloves in an "unsterile environment."

On Wednesday, Stone argued in court that Yang was entitled to compliance with Supreme Court Rule 417 and the state was ordered to disclose their complete DNA testing results to the defense.

"The state, rather than examining this case with fresh eyes, continues to obfuscate and to hold back evidence of innocence," Stone said.

Stone also petitioned the court earlier this year to allow an unknown fingerprint to be run through the AFIS database. According to Stone, the print was found on a doorknob where the killer stood while executing Reuter. A second print found on another doorknob was originally reported to be that of Officer Michael Scarry but recent Automated Fingerprint Identification System and Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System results exclude Scarry as the owner of either print.

"We've uncovered evidence in this case that the shooter had to have been taller than Ms. Reuter. Ms. Reuter was 5-foot-9. Marni is barely 5-foot-tall," Stone added.

Thursday's press conference was organized by Tammy Koelling, CEO of Words Matter Publishing LLC, a downstate Salem-based company. Koelling, who served 29 years for first-degree murder, has been working to prove Yang's innocence since her release from prison in 2016.

According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, the Lake County State's Attorney's Office also questioned Koelling's credibility amid business ties with Yang and her family, including reported book deals.

"(It) appears that Words Matter Publishing has provided financial compensation or other inducements to the defendant or her children for multiple book deals and media contracts," reads one document, according to the Chicago Tribune. "The People contend that the financial inducements to those witnesses by Words Matter Publishing would relate to the bias, interest and motive of those witnesses."

Stone discussed a story from WAMQ-TV the day following the discovery of Reuter's body that said police were looking for a "muscular-built, African-American male" leaving the scene of the shooting. He said his office is also looking for this man.

In April, Stone filed a clemency petition for his client over coronavirus concerns, asking for her release from the Logan Correctional Center, which was on lockdown at the time. According to the petition, Yang has asthma, Type 2 diabetes and a compromised immune system. He said the petition is currently "sitting on the Governor's desk" despite Yang being at "high-risk" for COVID-19. Stone also said prisoners housed near Yang have tested positive for the coronavirus.

The next court date for the case is scheduled for Nov. 10.

Related:
Marni Yang 'Truthful' In '20/20' Jailhouse Interview: Lawyer
Clemency Petition Filed For Marni Yang Over Coronavirus Concerns
UPDATE: Marni Yang Sentenced to Life in Prison