Gigi’s Impact Statement
By W. Guy Finley | April 18, 2008
STATE OF ILLINOIS
COUNTY OF LAKE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE NINETEENTH JUDICIAL
CIRCUIT, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
VS.
Adam Christensen
GENERAL NO. 04 cf 2643
VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT
I, Geralyn Willding , pursuant to 725 Illinois Compiled Statutes, 120/6(a) do hereby make the following statement as to the impact which the offense committed by the above named defendant has had upon my daughter, my family and me:
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Killer gets 48 years :: News Sun :: News
By W. Guy Finley | March 23, 2008
Killer gets 48 years :: News Sun :: News
Minutes before Adam Christenson was sentenced for the murder of Grant High School student Elizabeth Willding, prosecutor Michael Mermel urged the judge to be swift and stern.
“We have to protect the people from Adam Christenson so they won’t feel the same pain as the Willding family does right now,” Mermel told Judge James Booras Monday. “You are the only person on the face of the earth who can do that.”
Liz Willding (with flowers) is pictured with her family in this March 2004 photo.
Christenson, 25, sat emotionless next to his attorneys after he was ordered to 48 years in prison.
He will serve the term without any chance of an early release.
“Nothing will mend the wounds these two families feel,” Booras said. “It is a tragedy for the Willding family and the family of the defendant. He took a talented person away from the world, and he must be punished.”
The Ingleside man did not plead guilty, but he admitted in court Feb. 5 that the evidence against him was strong enough to convince a judge or jury.
With that plea, he avoided a trial.
Defense attorney Keith Grant had argued that Christenson was in a poor mental state when he killed Willding on July 14, 2004, and that his confession should be suppressed .
He was found unfit to stand trial and was sent to a state mental health facility before being found fit by a doctor last April.
On July 13, 2004, Christenson and co-defendants Melissa Ward and Daniel Rowe entered the Willding home in Ingleside. They stole a video camera and an Xbox game system, intending to sell them to buy drugs .
The next day, Christenson returned to the house to retrieve a cord needed to operate the camera. However, Willding, 16, was at home and was stabbed more than 40 times during an apparent struggle.
Her mother, Gigi Willding, has said she has not been able to recover physically or emotionally.
She and her fiancé, Scott Pregent, have been in counseling twice a week since the murder.
“It’s been terrible. Liz was the glue that held the family together,” she said. “I think about her every day and what I could have done differently to save her.”
Christenson’s father, Daniel, testified that he could not have imagined the boy who excelled in sports and academics, could one day be a killer.
“Adam was everything you could want in a son,” he said amid tears. “I’ve always thought we did a good job with him, but apparently we did not.”
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Daily Herald | Man gets 48 years for killing Ingleside teen
By W. Guy Finley | March 23, 2008
Daily Herald | Man gets 48 years for killing Ingleside teen
Killer’s, teenager’s families speak of the toll of 2004 fatal stabbing
By Tony Gordon |
Another painful chapter in the murder of Elizabeth Willding came to a close Monday, but her friends and family say they’ll always be haunted by her death.
The family of her killer — 25-year-old Adam Christenson — feels the same way.
Willding was brutally murdered in 2004 when she interrupted Christenson’s second burglary of her family’s Ingleside home in as many days.
“I cannot believe that the last time I saw my daughter alive I was holding her and assuring her she was safe in her own home,” said her mother, Gigi Willding, at Christenson’s sentencing hearing Monday. “I live with the fact that I assured my daughter she was safe that day.”
Christenson was sentenced to 48 years in prison Monday for stabbing Elizabeth more than 40 times in a rage fueled by the mental illness he had suffered from for years. Christenson has a significant history of mental illness, including confinement in a state hospital for a year after being found unfit to stand trial in 2005.
The crime has sent shock waves through his family as well.
“You think you could have done more (to help Adam), but we tried,” David Christenson testified at his son’s sentencing hearing. “We had hoped we had done everything we could have, but obviously we did not.”
A stream of family and friends took the witness stand to speak of Elizabeth Willding and the promise that was destroyed when she was murdered July 14, 2004.
She was a National Honor Society member, star soccer and volleyball player, and emotionally wise beyond the 16 years she lived. Witnesses said Elizabeth touched all she came in contact with.
She excelled at the fine arts and was a singer and actor at both Grant High School and the PM&L Theater in Antioch.
Stephanie Willding said Elizabeth was “the glue that held our family together” and that she lives her life in honor of her late sister.
“Every day I try to live the best life I can because Liz cannot,” Stephanie said. “She was going to do great things.”
A young Adam Christenson was on that same path early in his life, his family members told Circuit Judge James Booras.
Adam Christenson excelled in school and on the athletic fields, much the same as his victim, and also shared an ability to make friends quickly.
“He was the curly-haired, freckle-faced, all-American boy,” his sister Jennifer Stoeck said. “He excelled at everything he did and seemed to be making new friends every day.”
But the clouds darkened as Adam Christenson entered his sophomore year of high school, and he slipped further into the grip of mental illness that several attempts at treatment could not cure.
In the months before the murder, Adam Christenson had become listless, was abusing drugs and took to burglarizing the Willding house for drug money, authorities said.
Christenson pleaded guilty but mentally ill last month in exchange for a sentence of between 20 and 60 years.
Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Mermel asked for the full amount so the sentence “would speak out and says that society condemns” what Christenson did.
Assistant Public Defender Keith Grant asked for something in the 40-year range “to balance the loss the victim’s family feels with the loss that Adam’s family feels.”
Booras said he considered the losses on both sides of the murder but also saw there was a difference.
“The Christenson family will be able to visit their son and speak with him as the years go by,” Booras said. “Any conversation the Willding family has with Elizabeth will be one-sided.”
When he finished his testimony, David Christenson was walking back to his chair in the gallery when Dr. Steven Willding, Elizabeth’s father, reached out to him.
The two men embraced, whispered something to each other, and then David Christenson slowly walked away.
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Christenson Sentenced To 48 Years
By W. Guy Finley | March 17, 2008
Judge Booras sentenced Adam Christenson today to 48 years in prison, two years short of the maximum sentence. While he gets credit for time already served since he was arrested he will not be eligible for parole. We’re told the technicalities for appeal increase with a maximum sentence so it appears that Judge Booras may have had that in mind when determining the sentence. Whatever the case, he will not be free until he is 70 years old.
I’m sure that Gigi will have more information for you later.
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Memorial Video on YouTube
By W. Guy Finley | March 17, 2008
I have divided (since YouTube has a 10 minute limit) and uploaded the memorial video to YouTube. You can check it out by clicking play below or going directly to its entry on YouTube.
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“I feel robbed” no closure for mom
By gigi | February 7, 2008
February 6, 2008
It has been nearly four years since Gigi Willding found her daughter’s bloodied and motionless body on the floor of her home in Ingleside.
And the memories of that day are burned into her mind. As much as Willding wants to erase the moment she knew 16-year-old Elizabeth Willding would never speak to her again, it is now impossible.
The Willding family.
(Special to the News-Sun)
“I wonder if I had come home a little earlier that maybe I could have saved her,” Willding told The News-Sun on Tuesday.
The past three years, six months and 18 days have been tough, said Willding, who keeps a running tab of the time since Elizabeth was stabbed to death on July 14, 2004.
On Monday, the task grew tougher. There would be no trial and no testimony against Adam Christenson.
During a hearing in Lake County Circuit Court, Christenson, 25, entered an Alford plea — not admitting guilt but accepting the strength of the case against him.
Judge James Booras set sentencing for March 17.
“I feel robbed that I will not be able to say all the things I want to,” said Willding, who was expecting a jury to decide Christenson’s fate during a trial. “I wanted closure, but I will not have any now.”
Willding said she had so many questions to ask regarding the sequence of events that led to the death of her daughter.
“There are so many questions that will go unanswered now,” she said. “I needed that trial for closure. I don’t know how to feel.”
Although she plans to write a victim impact statement prior to Christenson’s sentencing to explain the effect Elizabeth’s death has had on the family, Willding still can’t come to grips with sitting in court knowing that her daughter’s killer will see many more days.
“I’ve been to that court 40 to 50 times, and it is always different. Sometimes I can’t stand to look at (Christenson) him,” she said. “Sometimes I look at his arms and think about what he did to my daughter.”
Christenson will soon be sent to prison, maybe for the rest of his life, but it will not mend those scars.
“Elizabeth will not be able to come back, but (Christenson’s) family will be able to visit him in prison.”
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Thoughts On Sentencing
By W. Guy Finley | February 6, 2008
As I was reading the Daily Herald article this morning I thought a lot about the sentencing of Adam Christenson. It’s difficult to conceive what Gigi and the rest of Liz’ family have gone through the past few years. Despite the near immediate arrest of this man it’s been 3 1/2 long years waiting for justice. At the end of the day it still seems to me that Adam Christenson has continued to do what he did for his whole life — skate through unnoticed and apparently with little regard from anyone to do anything about it.
Judge Booras has a chance to end that March 17th. Finally someone will have the ability to tell him that enough is enough. Someone needs to tell him finally and someone needs to deliver justice for Liz and her family. It appears that will finally come in a little over a month.
Mr. Christenson’s attorneys have done their job as they should have. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t state the way this has gone on has been a true horror for Liz’ family. Imagine it, 3 1/2 years of continued suffering while he skates from hearing to hearing, dodging justice at every turn, certainly without his freedom but certainly not paying for his horrific crime. On top of that, when one thinks he could be sentenced to as little as 20 years and be paroled far sooner than that is a horror I cannot imagine. This is not a man who’s guilt has even been of any question, the physical evidence is overwhelming even without his confession.
To think that it has taken 3 1/2 years to adjudicate something so obvious is truly troubling for society but a nightmare to Liz’ family. I think it is time that we take a close look at what Adam Christenson stole on July 14, 2004.
According to prosecutors he came to the Willding house to retrieve a digital camera cable you can find for $5 at Best Buy or any electronics store. Why he couldn’t pawn a camera without it one will never know. Also according to prosecutors he had broken into the house and stole various items before, he went back for this cable so he could pawn it for drugs.
Only Mr. Christenson knew what he was there to steal that day, certainly Lizzie didn’t. All Lizzie knew was her home had been violated the day before and now someone was there to do it again — she wasn’t going to let that happen.
For that act of defending the serenity of her family’s home she paid with her life. One may think that only an insane person would take someone’s life for something of so little value, but that’s not what this was about. This was about someone finally telling Adam Christenson “no, you’re not going to do that”. For that act he unleashed an onslaught of savagery in the form of more than 40 stab wounds because no one tells Adam Christenson “no” apparently. Liz died when she bled to death. Judge Booras has a chance to tell Mr. Christenson “no” on March 17 and I hope that he will deliver the maximum sentence he can impose. The maximum is already far too little for what he has stolen.
He stole the life of a young, energetic, beautiful and talented girl. A young girl who was never given a chance at life because he stole that from her. He didn’t just steal though, he has given some terrible gifts as well. He has given a mother a lifetime of memories about how she found her little girl. He has given an entire family the anguish of being without their darling Liz. He has given sorrow and tears to the many friends that Liz had, sorrow for a life she didn’t have the opportunity to live. He has caused them to doubt themselves, to think if they could have done something different: picked a different place to live, done more after the first break-in, better secured the home or the litany of other things people think of in retrospect of such a terrible event. No matter how many times we may tell her family there was really nothing they could have done the thoughts still remain the same — the doubt, the sorrow, the grief will always be there for the rest of their lives.
Judge Booras has an opportunity to give something to Adam Christenson and that’s the time to think about what he’s done the rest of his life behind bars. This isn’t retribution, it isn’t revenge; this is justice for what he has done to so many people. Mr. Christenson has shown himself fully unfit to conduct himself in society to conduct a crime so heinous over something so trivial. Fortunately Judge Booras will have ample protection from Mr. Christenson in the confines of the courtroom, the last person who tried to stop him paid with her life.
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Daily Herald | Man admits to killing Ingleside teen in 2004
By W. Guy Finley | February 6, 2008
Daily Herald | Man admits to killing Ingleside teen in 2004
The man accused of the brutal 2004 murder of a 16-year-old Ingleside girl pleaded guilty Monday, just as his trial was about to begin.
Adam Christenson, 25, will face a sentence of 20 to 60 years in prison when he returns to court March 17 before Circuit Judge James Booras.
Christenson was accused of stabbing Elizabeth Willding more than 40 times July 14, 2004, when she interrupted his second burglary of her home in as many days.
Christenson pleaded guilty but mentally ill to killing the girl under a clause in the law that does not require a defendant to give up his claim of innocence.
Instead, Christenson was required only to admit that if a reasonable judge or jury were to hear the evidence against him, it was likely he would be convicted.
Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Mermel said the framework around the plea was a technicality with no meaningful impact.
“He is just as guilty,” Mermel said. “(The plea) is just as final.”
Christenson has a significant history of mental illness, including confinement in a state hospital for a year after being found unfit to stand trial in 2005.
Doctors said Christenson was restored to fitness last year and returned to Lake County, although he still receives medication for psychological disorders.
Mermel told Booras witnesses would be prepared to testify that Christenson, after originally denying any involvement in the crime, admitted the girl struck him over the head with an object when she found him inside her house.
Christenson then grabbed a knife and began stabbing the girl, Mermel said, and left the house without the digital camera cord he had planned to steal.
Christenson needed the cord because he had stolen the camera the previous day, Mermel said, and was unable to pawn the camera without the cord.
Scientists also were prepared to testify the girl’s blood was found on the shoes Christenson was wearing when he was first questioned by police, and that his DNA was found underneath her fingernails.
Before entry of the plea, Booras told Christenson about a conversation he had with the lawyers concerning the negotiations that led to the plea.
Booras said Assistant Public Defender Keith Grant was recommending a sentence of about 30 years, while Mermel recommended 50 to 60 years.
Booras said after considering all the facts, he was leaning toward a sentence of 40 to 50 years, but the actual term could be higher or lower depending on the evidence brought out at the sentencing hearing.
Gigi Willding, the victim’s mother, and other family members were present in the courtroom but declined to comment after the hearing.
Christenson’s father also attended and left without comment.
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ADAM CHRISTENSON NEW COURT DATE
By gigi | August 24, 2007
ADAM CHRISTENSON’S NEXT COURT DATE WILL BE SEPT. 4. THEY WILL BE SETTING A HEARING FOR AND INSANITY PLEA AND THROWING OUT HIS CONFESSION. AND THE SAGA CONTINUES GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS GIGI
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DANIEL ROWE ARRESTED AGAIN
By gigi | August 24, 2007
DANIEL ROWE ARRESTED AGAIN FOR BURGLARY. HE ALREADY WAS OUT OF PRISON AND HAD ONE YEAR OF PROBATION LEFT. HIS HEARING IS SEPT. 31. HE SHOULD BE GOING BACK TO PRISON AND CHARGED WITH ANOTHER OFFENSE. I GUESS THEY NEVER CHANGE.
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