Jerry Branton Hobbs is being charged in the deaths of his daughter and her best friend. The Lake County States’ Attorney Michael Waller will be able to give more details tomorrow after the bond hearing at 10 am CDT in the Lake County Courthouse, courtroom 120. They will introduce evidence at the hearing and can then reveal that evidence to the press.

The States’ Attorney said:

This horrific crime has terrorized and traumatized the Zion community and, I think it’s safe to say, people of good will everywhere. The arrest today is the first step in the process of bringing this defendant to justice. As you may be aware, this defendant is eligible for the death penalty. I’ve been the States’ Attorney in Lake County for 15 years and I have a protocol that I follow. I’ve found that its not a good practice to make such a decision in the heat of the moment and we will make that decision after the investigation into this case is completed and after we do a thorough background investigation into this defendant. And its important for me to make the point that this investigation is continuing. The reason we’re holding this press conference today is obviously because of the great interest and the need to keep the public informed, but also to try to bring some sense of relief to the people of Zion that this defendant is in custody.

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The ACLU has a little “movie” about how just awful Real ID will be. Why, your local Pizza Place will know every little thing about you….

Video here.

The father of one of the victims, the one that found the children’s bodies, may be charged with the murders of the best friends, his own daughter and her friend. He was recently released from prison in Texas for aggravated assault.

From WFLD Fox-Chicago:

“Jerry just got out of prison for aggravated assault and I think they’re holding that against him,” Hollabaugh said. “I don’t think he did it.”

Hobbs has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1990 in Texas, including prior arrests for assault and resisting arrest, according to records kept by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Records also show Hobbs had a rocky relationship with Laura’s mother, Sheila Hollabaugh. Hobbs had been arrested in 2001 after arguing with her, grabbing a chainsaw and chasing other residents around the trailer park where they lived, according to Wichita County Assistant District Attorney Rick Mahler. Someone eventually subdued Hobbs by hitting him in the back with a shovel, Mahler said.

Hobbs was convicted of aggravated assault and sentenced to 10 years probation for the incident, but he failed to appear for his required meetings, so his probation was revoked in 2003 and he was imprisoned until his release on April 12, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Related:
Best Friends Forever
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As you can see by the “clock” above, it has been 100 days since Senator Kerry promised on national TV to sign his form 180.

Blogs for Bush has all the information necessary to send a fax…

Tim Russert, why aren’t you pushing this? Kerry made the promise to you…

Krystal Tobias (9) and Laura Hobbs (8) of Zion, Illinois, best of best friends, went for a bike ride together on Mothers’ Day. They never came home. Sometime in the middle of the night, whoever had prevented them from going back to their mothers, repeatedly stabbed both of them and left them in a park near their homes. Laura’s father and grandfather found them at dawn Monday.

	May they rest in peace. Our prayers go out to their families and friends.

Update: The Chicago Tribune has this:

Source: Charges to come in Zion slayings

Tribune staff report
Published May 10, 2005, 9:53 AM CDT

An individual will be charged today in connection with the stabbing deaths of two young girls from north suburban Zion, police sources told the Tribune this morning. Details to come.

Related:
Best Friends Forever
Best Friends Forever – Mr Hobbs Charged?
Father is being charged in deaths of best friends
Hobbs Confesses to Killing Best Friends