Naperville Killer Died In His Sleep At Will County Jail: Police

JOLIET, IL —After spending nearly three years living at the Will County Jail, Naperville first-degree murder defendant Barry Whelpley was in no hurry to ever stand trial in front of a jury of Will County citizens for the 1972 slaying of 15-year-old Julie Ann Hanson.

Even after three years in custody, Whelpley's case was not even scheduled for a trial, according to the 2024 court calendar for Will County Courtroom 405.

Then on Friday morning, Will County jailers checked Whelpley's cell, as part of their routine inmate head count, and realized the 79-year-old inmate was no longer alive. Authorities believe Whelpley died in his sleep, according to Plainfield Police Commander Kevin McQuaid, who also runs the Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force.

Meanwhile, it will take another six to eight weeks before the toxicology results are known, according to McQuaid. The toxicology reports are important to help police investigators determine whether an inmate may have been poisoned or perhaps he or she had access to illegal narcotics that could have resulted in an overdose.

However, at this point in time, the Will-Grundy task force has found no indication of anything sinister. Authorities believe Whelpley died of natural causes, according to McQuaid, who said it was his understanding that Whelpley, as is customary in the cases of a lot of older inmates, had various medical issues.

The Mounds View, Minnesota man had been in the Will County Jail awaiting his murder trial since June 8, 2021. Whelpley had been represented by prominent Chicago suburban criminal defense lawyer Terry Ekl. Earlier last week, Whelpley appeared in Courtroom 405 for an evidence suppression ruling that went in the favor of the Will County State's Attorney's Office.

Will County correctional staff saw the Naperville murder defendant alive at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, but shortly before 7 a.m. Friday, sheriff's deputies and Joliet Fire Department paramedics were called to 95 S. Chicago St. after correctional staff found Whelpley unresponsive.

As for the murder victim, Julie Ann Hanson was last seen alive on July 7, 1972. Her body was discovered the next day near 87th Street and Modaff Road after the bicycle she had been riding was found on a nearby gravel road. Police say she had been stabbed numerous times.

Whelpley's arrest came via "genealogy and DNA evidence," then-Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall remarked back in 2021.