SALINE CO.— The 63-year-old Eldorado man who was convicted in April of trying to hire a hit man to kill his wife has been sentenced to 32 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, a $10,000 fine and, if he lives to be 95 years old, he will have another three years parole.
Roger Young
Following a three-day April murder trial, which included verbal testimony from the accused, Roger Young, as well as the thought-to-be hit man, audio and video tapes, the jury took only nine minutes to return a guilty verdict.
Coalminer
Young had been working for Eagle Valley Coal Mine, which was located near Equality years ago but has been shut down for a number of years.
In 2002, he was injured in a rock fall, the injury being a broken neck.
That same year, he was awarded a settlement in a lump sum, then a small monthly payment after that, along with his social security payment.
The money wasn’t enough that it put his family in a comfortable position, so Linda Young continued to work in order to support them.
Initial reports had indicated that Roger Young’s desire to kill his wife had been based on an ongoing set of recriminations over her removing the lump sum from a joint account and placing it in an account with her and their kids’ names on it, keeping it out of Young’s reach.
Undercover agent brought in
Young began expressing his desire to terminate his wife for several months in 2012.
Several weeks prior to his arrest, the man Young was pushing to find a hit man became concerned when it seems that Young was planning to actually go through with the killing one way or another and contacted authorities.
Testimony during the April trial revealed that Young and the buddy had talked in great detail about how the job could be accomplished.
In March of 2012 an undercover agent was then sent in with the buddy.
The buddy introduced the agent as a friend, telling Young that he himself couldn’t go through with it, but this new friend could, as he had just gotten out of DOC and was something of a hardcase.
On March 31, 2012 Young took the “hit man” through his house, showing him tools and other items that would serve as “collateral” for his promise of money for the “hit man.”
Young reportedly went over his wife’s schedule and route taken to and from work with the hit man so he’d know the best time to strike.
Young’s wife Linda was overcome by the strain of finding out her husband of many decades tried to have her killed and later took her own life.
Amounts to life
Young was defended by Granite City attorney Morgan Scroggins.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Saline County State’s Attorney Jason Olson.
The investigation was carried out by Illinois State Police Special Agent David Blazier and Lt. Beleveau of the Illinois State Police, who played the part of the hit man.
Following the trial, state’s attorney Mike Henshaw said if Young would receive such a sentence that it amount to life.
It appears Mr. Henshaw was correct.