Alisa Massaro struck a plea. "First and foremost, we do not intend for our advocacy for Bethany, who was also the victim of violence during her life, to minimize the tragedy that two young men lost their lives," White-Domain told Joliet Patch during last week's interview. McKee apologized to the families in court. A judges gag order had kept attorneys and others from sharing details of the case previously. I couldn't even fathom that this was going on," he says. He was like, 'Adam, you got me?' "In her statement, Bethany also describes, horrifically, that her co-defendants later hit and kicked the bodies repeatedly and discussed how to dispose of them. Yes it is true that Bethany did not leave the scene of the crime or even call the police after she realized what had happened, but if you were wearing her shoes after she was threatened by the very people that have already committed these murders what would you have done, he said. If given discretion, I would impose a sentence that was significant but would not be the maximum, he said. On Thursday, co-defendant Alisa Massaro testified that "Bethany suggested calling Terrancebecause he probably had money.". Before the trial began, nervous family members of the victims gathered to pray in a courtroom hallway. Check back this week for another Joliet Patch story, focusing on Bethany McKee's job assignments in prison including her work as a certified trainer for the Helping Paws program that trains service dogs for people with disabilities. Bill McKee said he went to the police when Bethany refused to tell him where she was keeping her baby daughter. '", When the detective asked McKee what would have happened, if she tried to stop them from kicking the bodies, she replied, "All three of us would have been dead. On Monday, her defense attorney's motion for a new trial was denied. Glover and Rankins, both 22, were strangled to death. McKee is on trial for first-degree murder. Joliet Zonta Club Awards Woman Of The Year, Karl Ferrell, Joliet Township Trustee, Cannot Stay In Office: Judges, Channahon-Minooka Area Prospective Homeowners: See 5 New Homes On The Market, Female Joliet Officer Stabbed In Stomach During Arrest. At McKees sentencing hearing, her mother, Teresa McKee, said her daughter is bipolar, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, cuts herself, is unsure who fathered her then-3-year-old daughter and has been hospitalized for extensive periods of time due to her psychiatric problems. "I didn't want Bethany to get caught up any further into it.". A few days before Rankins'death, he bought beer for McKee and displayed a large wad of cash, which set in motion the robbery plan, prosecutors said. Both bodies were face down with plastic bags over the heads, one resting on a pillow and the other on towels, the officers said. Miner and Landerman were also sentenced to life in prison. Her bench trial in front of Will. When she came back in the room and learned what had happened for the first time, she was devastated and terrified. She and three others were involved in the strangulation murder of Terrance Rankins and Eric Glover, authorities say. Logan CC IL. McKee, 20, is the first of three defendants to go on trial in the slayings of Eric Glover and Terrance Rankins, both 22. Bethany McKee and Massaro lured Rankins and Glover to Massaros Hickory Street nightmare house but left the room while Landerman and Miner carried out the killings, according to police reports obtained exclusively by Patch. Glover and. "Josh was like, 'well, you have to kick him.' To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Police believe Landerman brought tools to dismember the bodies. On Thursday, co-defendant Alisa Massaro testified that "Bethany suggested calling Terrance because he probably had money.". We didnt argue at all. Glovers brother Mark Johnson said he was unsure and scared about what he might hear in court. And that's partly why reducing McKee's sentence for her double murder conviction has become one of the top priorities for McKee's lawyers, Rachel White-Domain and Sarah Free at the grant-funded Illinois Prison Project in Chicago. He is crazy. In July, her attorneys filed a request for the Illinois Supreme Court to review the case. All Im asking for is visitation.Bill McKee, acknowledged Westbrooks complaints but said he is putting the childfirst.As responsible grandparents, we have (her) best interests at heart, he said. Life in prison for two Joliet strangulations - Baltimore Sun On Monday, her defense attorneys motion for a new trial was denied. Bethany McKees attorney, Neil Patel, told how she was raped when she was 14 and shortly after abducted and forced into prostitution. Shes confused, said Bethany McKees father, Bill McKee. She has just gotten away with murder, Bill McKee said in his blog. He's like, yeah, we're really gonna do this.