Offender Sentenced in 1992 Evanston Murder

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2016

Contact: Commander Joseph Dugan - Media Relations
Phone:   (847) 866-5026

email: jdugan@cityofevanston.org

OFFENDER SENTENCED IN 1992 EVANSTON MURDER 

On April 23, 1992, Deeondra Dawson was discovered brutally murdered in her apartment in the 600 block of Sherman Avenue from multiple stab wounds.  Her 4 year old son was discovered in the apartment unharmed.  Evanston police detectives followed-up on numerous leads, but they were unable to identify an offender in the incident.  

In May of 2013, Evanston detectives working the case were able to link Jimmie Dunlap to the murder of Deeondra Dawson after resubmitting evidence from the scene to the Illinois State Police Crime Laboratory for advanced DNA analysis.  Dunlap, 46 years old, from Chicago was charged by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office with one count of First Degree Murder on May 29, 2013.

On April 14, 2016, Dunlap was found guilty by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Warnick after a bench trial at the Skokie Court House.  Several Evanston police officers, past and present were involved in the investigation, including Commander Steven Goldenberg, who was the evidence technician that processed the original scene and recovered key evidence.  The investigation also included retired Commander Charles Wernick, who is currently the Chief of Police in Northbrook, Illinois and his son Aaron Wernick who is presently an Evanston police detective.  Numerous family members of Deeondra Dawson, including her mother and son were also present for the trial.  

On June 15, 2016, Dunap was sentenced to 46 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by Judge Warnick.  

An arrestee photo of Dunlap is attached to this release for legitimate media purposes only.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

• dunlap.jpg