Nightmare On Hickory Victim's Dad Gets Convicted Of '02 Murder

JOLIET, IL - On Wednesday afternoon, Will County Circuit Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes found 45-year-old Eric Glover Sr. guilty of murdering his girlfriend Velma Franklin, a slaying that occurred more than 15 years ago. Glover now faces between 45 years imprisonment to life in prison when he returns for sentencing on the first-degree murder charge on January 29. The killing occurred back in 2002. The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office noted that after Glover shot his victim in the head he ran out of the house. The shooting occurred in the presence of the murder victim’s then 3-year-old daughter.

Glover was charged with the slaying back in 2002, but murder charges were later dropped by a previous administration in the State’s Attorney’s Office. The murder case was revived at the recommendation of former Joliet Police Captain Jim “Stew” Stewart, who became the chief investigator at Jim Glasgow’s Will County State’s Attorney’s Office in 2010. Murder charges were refiled against Franklin 2012 and the judge found him guilty of the murder on Wednesday.

Stewart, 64, died last week after an extended illness. Stew’s death drew an outpouring of tremendous sadness around Joliet and the Will County law enforcement and legal communities.

RELATED: Father Of Hickory St. Nightmare Victim In Court For Own Murder Case

RELATED: Obituary of Jim Stewart, Retired Joliet Police Captain

“This guilty verdict my prosecutors secured today is a testament to Jim Stewart's dogged determination and his desire for justice on behalf of Velma Franklin," Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow said in a press statement. "This case would never have gotten another look and a cowardly murderer would still be free if Jim, Stewart had not championed the cause."

Lastly, Glasgow singled out three of his criminal prosecutors for their performance on the case securing Glover's guilt: Frank Byers, Christine Vukmir and John Rickmon.

Glover's son, also named Eric Glover, was strangled to death along with his friend, Terrance Rankins, in January 2013. Both men were 22 when they died.

The grisly double slaying—the Nightmare on Hickory Street murders—was carried out by four broke, unemployed young people who were desperate for cigarettes and alcohol, court testimony showed.

Mugshot of Eric Glover Sr. via Will County State's Attorney's Office