Man Gets Life Sentence For Fatally Stabbing Girlfriend In Woodridge

WOODRIDGE, IL — A Chicago man was sentenced to two terms of natural life in prison in connection with the 2015 stabbing death of Cecily Dickey, of Woodridge. Launden Luckett, 34, was convicted of first degree murder in 2021 after a five-day jury trial.

Woodridge police were called to Dickey's apartment on Oct. 19, 2015, to perform a well-being check. During the check, they found Dickey dead. It was determined she had been stabbed and choked repeatedly, prosecutors say.

An investigation led police to discover that Dickey and Luckett got into a verbal altercation early Oct. 16, 2015. Police say Dickey ran to the bathroom to get away from Luckett and that he followed her and stabbed her in the stomach. When Dickey tried to flee the bathroom, Luckett knocked her down, stabbed her and choked her, a news release said. Luckett then stole Dickey's debit card and cellphone before fleeing in her car.

An autopsy found that Dickey's death was attributed to multiple stab wounds. Luckett was charged with her murder in December of 2015 while he was in custody at Cook County Jail on unrelated charges.

“This morning Launden Luckett learned that for the brutal, vicious murder of Cecily Dickey, he will be removed from society for the rest of his natural life, the only appropriate sentence,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Berlin added, “Violent crime in its rawest form, as displayed by Mr. Luckett in this case, has an obvious effect on the victim and surviving family members. Additionally, these crimes affect the entire community representing not just a loss of a friend or a neighbor, but also a loss of safety and security."

Berlin added, "I wish Cecily’s family and friends continued strength and fond memories of Cecily as they close the book on this horrible chapter of their lives."