Chicago Tribune

Dahleen Glanton: A kid charged with his friend's murder during a botched burglary in 2008 got a second chance. The teens charged in suburban Chicago deserve one too

Eleven years ago, a group of teenagers broke into a house near Rockford, Ill., planning to steal a cache of guns. The boys had meticulously planned the burglary. They knew the homeowner, who was supposed to be in the hospital that night.

The house was dark when they arrived. To make sure no one was home, they knocked on the door and threw a rock through the window. The coast seemed clear, so the youngest boys, ages 14, 15 and 16, went in. The 18-year-old waited in the car.

What the boys didn't know was

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Chicago Tribune

Chicago Tribune3 min read
‘Bodkin’ Review: A True-crime Podcast Descends Upon Rural Ireland, With Mediocre Results
True-crime podcasts are enough of a phenomenon that they’ve become a premise for scripted, fictional TV shows. Following on the heels of “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu), “Based on a True Story” (Peacock) and “Truth Be Told” (Apple TV+), we can
Chicago Tribune4 min read
New COVID ‘FLiRT’ Variants Are Spreading Nationwide. Chicago Health Experts Urge Up To Date Vaccination
CHICAGO — A new family of COVID variants nicknamed “FLiRT” is spreading across the country, as vaccination rates in Chicago — as well as nationwide — remain concerningly low for some public health experts. While symptoms and severity seem to be abou
Chicago Tribune4 min read
New Chicago Play ‘Turret’ Has A Father’s Ghost — And Michael Shannon Trapped In A Bunker
CHICAGO — Dystopian times, these. Netflix had a hit with “Leave the World Behind,” executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, a movie wherein America descends into chaos. Many Americans went to see “Civil War,” imaging a nation ripped asunder.

Related Books & Audiobooks