Bobbie Jo Ollom, Denny's Murder Co-Defendant, Learns Prison Term

JOLIET, IL — After spending the past three years and nine months living in Will County's Jail, former Joliet and Seneca resident Bobbie Jo Ollom will be moving to the Illinois Department of Corrections. Last Friday, Ollom's criminal case in the April 30, 2019, Joliet Denny's parking lot murder of Crest Hill resident Gregory Brown, age 36, drew to a close.

Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Ollom, now 27, to 18 years of imprisonment. Ollom must serve her armed robbery conviction at 85 percent, according to downtown Joliet criminal defense lawyer Chuck Bretz.

Working in her favor, Ollom will receive credit for time already served. That means Ollom has about "10 years to go," Bretz explained.

Joliet Patch has written numerous articles about Ollom and her case over the four years.

In November 2021, Ollom reached a plea agreement with the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss Ollom's two charges of first-degree murder and robbery after she pleaded guilty to her remaining Class X felony of armed robbery.

In addition, Ollom has agreed to testify truthfully if and when her two co-defendants, Joshua Topaz Anderson of Chicago and Christopher C. Parker of Chicago, stand trial.

Anderson has been preoccupied with filing numerous pro se civil lawsuits against the Will County Jail administrators, while Parker has been in no hurry to have Will County's judges set his case for jury trial, even though he's also been incarcerated for four years now.

Joliet Patch previously reported that Brown, the 36-year-old homicide victim, was fatally shot in the Denny's parking lot, and the Joliet shooting happened around 10 p.m.

Video surveillance footage that Joliet police obtained from the restaurant showed Ollom had been inside the Denny's restaurant talking with Brown prior to his violent death.

Ollom was not the shooter in the Plainfield Road homicide, Bretz pointed out.

During Friday's phone interview with Patch, Bretz explained that Parker is the suspected shooter in the Denny's parking lot homicide, while Anderson planned out the crime.

Anderson and Ollom were boyfriend and girlfriend at the time, Bretz explained.

After the homicide, Joliet police detectives received help from authorities in Iowa to capture Ollom and Anderson. Bretz said the two drove to Iowa because Ollom's brother lived there.

Bretz told Joliet Patch that the 18-year prison term for Ollom "was a fair and appropriate sentence" given the facts of the crime and his client's role.

"She's taken responsibility for her actions," Bretz remarked. "She has agreed to cooperate with law enforcement (against Parker and Anderson) so we think it's an appropriate sentence."

Bretz said his client helped participate in robbing Brown, but he emphasized Ollom had no idea Parker and Anderson were planning to commit first-degree murder.

Now 27 years old, Ollom will probably return to society when she's either 37 or 38 years old.

Parker's next pretrial hearing, in Courtroom 502, is set for March 24.

Anderson's next hearing, also in Courtroom 502, is set for April 24.

Related Joliet Patch articles on this case:

Mom's Dying Wish Is To See Bobbie Jo Ollom Out Of Jail

Staple Found In Joliet Murder Defendant's Cereal: Lawsuit

Denny's Murder Defendant Sues County Jail Over Mattress