Kokoraleis Release: Wheaton Police, State's Attorney Respond

WHEATON, IL -- Recent news that freed Ripper Crew murderer Thomas Kokoraleis is set to move to Wheaton caused a flurry of concern throughout the community, leading to a statement from the Wheaton Police Department regarding Kokoraleis's violent sexual history. The DuPage County State's Attorney's Office and the Illinois Attorney General's Office also released a joint public statement about Kokoraleis's release, which they say they unsuccessfully tried to file a petition against.

Kokoraleis was released Friday after serving 35 years of a 70 year sentence.

The Wheaton Police Department said Friday that Kokoraleis has not yet registered as a sex offender in Wheaton and "has not contacted the Police Department indicating he plans on registering."

By law, Kokoraleis, who was convicted of the 1982 rape and murder of Lorry Borowski, must register as a sex offender within three days of taking up residence in Wheaton. Kokoraleis will be staying in a Christian facility, Chicago Tribune reported.

Regarding Kokoraleis's controversial release from prison, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said Kokoraleis was evaluated "by extremely experienced psychologists and a psychiatrist who found he did not meet the necessary criteria – having a mental disorder that makes him violent and being highly likely to commit future acts of sexual violence – that would enable us to bring a petition to find him sexually violent under state law."

He added, "For that reason, and because Mr. Kokoraleis has completed his sentence, state law requires that he be released from custody. However, according to state law, he will be required to register as a sex offender and will be expected to comply with all laws and regulations pertaining to sex offenders."

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said, "As a father, my heart goes out to the families forever changed by an unimaginable loss, and I would like to commend the DuPage County State’s Attorney for his dedication to fighting on behalf of the Borowski family."