United States Ex Rel. Erickson v. Schomig

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

MANNING, District Judge.

Defendant Paul Erickson was convicted in the circuit court of Cook County by a jury of murder and concealing a homicidal death in connection with the rape and death of fifteen year-old Elizabeth Launer. At sentencing, Erickson waived a jury and the court sentenced him to death for murder, an extended term of 60 years for rape, and a consecutive term of 10 years for concealment of a homicidal death. Erickson filed a direct appeal and two state post-conviction petitions and pursued these cases unsuccessfully up to the United States Supreme…