Mass Murderer Prompts La Grange Schools To Issue Alert

LA GRANGE, IL — La Grange School District 105 has issued a community alert after learning that a paroled murderer has taken up residence across the street from Seventh Avenue School. Carl Reimann, 77, killed five people in 1972 and was released on parole last week.

Reimann now lists his address in the 700 block of South Seventh Street in La Grange, according to the Illinois State Police Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry.

The school district issued a statement sharing that they had been made aware of Reimann's parole and his address listed across the street from Seventh Avenue School.

"The police department is aware of this fact and is working closely with the schools to plan for increased presence during school arrival and dismissal times," the district shared. "We have contacted the Illinois Department of Corrections, Chief of Paroles, to express our concerns about his residence being in such close proximity to our school."

The La Grange address is also less than half a mile from Sedgwick Park and a mile from Gurrie Middle School, according to Google Maps.

On Dec. 29, 1972, Reimann and his then-girlfriend Betty Piche, walked into Pine Village Steakhouse in Yorkville. Five people were inside the restaurant when the pair walked in, according to court documents. Once inside, Reimann pulled a gun and Piche took money from the cash register.

During the robbery, a family walked into the Pine Village and were told that if they sat down they wouldn't be harmed, court documents note. But before Piche and Reimann left, Reimann "methodically, carefully and slowly shot and killed" the five people originally at the restaurant. The family was spared when Reimann ran out of ammunition, according to court documents.

The dead were Pine Village employees George T. Pashade, 74, of Aurora, John H. Wilson, 48, of North Aurora and Catherine M. Rekate, 16, of Plano; along with patrons Robert E. Loftus, 48, of Bristol and David M. Gardner, 35, of Yorkville.

Patch editor Shannon Antinori contributed to this report.

Image: Carl Reimann's most recent IDOC photo/Illinois Department of Corrections