Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsWednesday, August 29, 2007 11:08 PM CDT
Judge bars accused woman's police statements
Advertisement

ROLLING MEADOWS — A judge has barred statements made by a Bloomington real estate agent to police about the murder of her business associate two years ago.

Diana Thames, 49, has been in custody in the Cook County jail since her arrest for the Aug. 12, 2005, stabbing death of Cindy Wolosick, her longtime friend and business partner. The two women bought and rehabbed properties on Bloomington’s west side and sold them for a profit.

Thames was at Wolosick’s condominium following a trip the two had made to Mexico.

In a series of hearings this summer, defense attorney Kathleen Zellner argued Thames asked for a lawyer more than 17 times during the 27 hours she was in police custody.

Cook County Judge John Scotillo agreed with Thames’ defense team that Thames was interrogated without an attorney. Thames went to the police station to answer questions hours after she found her friend in a bed covered with blood. She was allowed to talk to an attorney after 27 hours in custody.

During her testimony, Thames told the judge that she did not believe she was free to leave the Palatine Police Department or make a telephone call to an attorney.

She said she eventually gave police a statement that she stabbed Wolosick in self defense because a police official told her she could be eligible for probation for such an offense.

The judge denied a motion to quash the arrest warrant against Thames. A Sept. 24 trial is scheduled.

Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 9 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

dianas nail girl wrote on Aug 30, 2007 7:25 PM:

" im sick and tired of posting comments on here and they are not posted guess they done like what Im saying "

windycity2 wrote on Aug 30, 2007 4:56 PM:

" the police do this all the time. Especially in the bigger cuties where it is easier to hide and get away with. Just goes to show you how the public outcry differs when it's a white male or female as opposed to this happening to a minority! "

to Really? wrote on Aug 30, 2007 12:09 PM:

" Don't forget that the police didn't just do something illegal. They actually held someone without getting them an attorney AND got her to confess to something that it doesn't even sound like she did. Where is the evidence? Glad to see a judge stand up and fight for someone who deserves it instead of the crooked cops who try to intimidate and look out for only themselves. Maybe if they would put as much energy into actually finding the people who commit the crimes, they would not have to waste that energy as well as time and tax payer's money on those who didn't actually do it!!! "

Really? wrote on Aug 30, 2007 11:31 AM:

" So there is a suspect who was arrested and has been in jail for 2 years, she finally gets a hearing that shows the police did something illegal. She has not been found guilty, and from what I have been reading, won't, but what is going to happen to all those officers who did something illegal??? What will happen to them if she is found not guilty? Where is the justice in the Law and Order system? To "I Believe", that is a great idea. There needs to be some kind of advocate that can help prevent things like this from happening, especially since it happens more than most people think. "

hmmmmm wrote on Aug 30, 2007 7:42 AM:

" In a different case..... Special Agent Cynthia Robbins was placed on indefinite paid leave because she denied the right for the accused to have an attorney present while being questioned. This case is different because the police officers were men, so it is "OK" for them to deny representation for the accused. Discrimination is still alive and well in Illinois. Pathetic, pathetic. "

Guess what wrote on Aug 29, 2007 3:33 PM:

" No guns involved! "

J O wrote on Aug 29, 2007 12:07 PM:

" It's called 'Bush Fascism' and America's got it! "

I believe... wrote on Aug 29, 2007 10:58 AM:

" there are really good detectives/police men/woman out there who really play by the rules. But for some, I think they are so set out to find "A" person who is guilty & bring them to justice to settle fears. I think that every police station should be assigned an advocate of some sort that can either sit in on an interragation or view it as it is happening so we don't have this sort of thing happening. Once a person ask for an attorney, the advocate could step in and make sure one is assigned & the interview is stopped. This would protect not only the Police/detectives but the person as well. "

Law? wrote on Aug 29, 2007 10:41 AM:

" There seems to be a lot of this lately where a person is denied their constitutional right to an attorney. A man who became a lawyer after spending 12 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit went through the same thing only to be cleared when the real perp admitted to it. He is now a prosecutor who is making sure he doesn't wrongfully send someone to prison just to make his record look good. Our legal system needs to be cleaned up to treat people fairly. Not to just look good. "

Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?