Early Release Proposal Could Benefit “Starved Rock Murders” Inmate

There could be a new way for Chester Weger to get out of prison despite his life sentence.

A proposed law passed out of a House committee yesterday that says inmates over 50 years old who have served at least 25 years in prison should be eligible for early release. The bill’s sponsor Arthur Turner of Chicago thinks it would reduce overcrowding and save the state money with older prisoners costing more money to house.

Inmates like Chester Weger would still have to go in front of a Prisoner Review Board who decides whether or not the older inmate poses a public safety threat. If the prison board agrees to a release, they could make the inmate do community service or wear an electronic monitoring device.

Victim family members would also get a say before an inmate is released early.