Bond Denied for Man Charged in Nurse's Death [stole wedding ring to propose to girlfriend]

NBC ^ | Thursday, Nov 10, 2011 | Updated 2:42 PM CST | Anthony Ponce

[Hunton Peck]

Harris stole the woman's wedding rings, prosecutors said, and used them to propose to his girlfriend

A 36-year-old Carpentersville man was denied bond Thursday in the beating death of a longtime nurse in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood.

Raymond Harris is accused of killing 73-year-old Virginia Perillo last month in her garage. He was arrested Tuesday in Elgin, police said, and charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery.

On Oct. 22, a neighbor driving by Perillo's house at 33rd and Parnell found her garage open and her body on the ground unresponsive. Police say Perillo was brutally beaten -- her face smashed.

Prosecutors say DNA evidence found in Perillo's car matched Harris' DNA.

Harris left behind his watch after a struggle with Perillo. Harris then stole her wedding and engagement rings, prosecutors said, and took them to a party later that night and used them to propose to his girlfriend.

Judge Peggy Chiampas called this "disturbing."

Harris was on parole after serving roughly half of a 30-year sentence for attempted murder and aggravated arson in 1997. Prosecutors said he broke into a woman's home, beat and raped her over a period of hours, and set her house on fire. The victim was able to escape.

Perillo's family says the arrest brings some relief and closure. They said in a statement they have worked with Chicago Police and feel fortunate that "various pieces of evidence" were found pointing to Harris.

“It has been a stressful and busy time for us knowing that the person that murdered my mom was still out there," Perillo's family said in a statement. "We’re just relieved knowing that there is one less criminal on the street. We can begin the healing process and put some closure to this and hopefully find the answers as to why.”

Perillo spent more than 40 years as a registered nurse at Rush University Medical Center.

He's due in court Nov. 29 for a status hearing.

[Nonstatist]

Harris then stole her wedding and engagement rings, prosecutors said, and took them to a party later that night and used them to propose to his girlfriend.

At least he believes in the sanctity of marriage.

[caveat emptor]

From myfoxchicago.com:

Harris was paroled in May after serving 13 years of a 30-year sentence for his 1997 attempted murder and aggravated arson convictions, Howlett said.

In that case, Harris broke into a woman’s home, raped and beat her for several hours, Howlett said. He also threatening that victim at knifepoint, cut her neck and set three separate fires in the woman’s home, Howlett said. The woman woke up with her legs on fire and suffered third degree burns.

Just three weeks before that attack, Harris had been released from prison for a 1993 armed robbery, vehicular invasion and burglary. In that case, Harris brandished a gun at a woman getting outside of her car outside her home, Howlett said.

Judge Peggy Chiampas noted how it was “particularly disturbing” that Harris kept committing heinous acts following his prison stints and lambasted him for having the “audacity” to use Perillo’s rings in his proposal.

Chiampas ordered Harris held without bail for murder and armed robbery.

[jagusafr]

“Harris left behind his watch after a struggle with Perillo. Harris then stole her wedding and engagement rings, prosecutors said, and took them to a party later that night and used them to propose to his girlfriend.

Judge Peggy Chiampas called this “disturbing.”

It’d be disturbing if heronner hadn’t found “this ‘disturbing’”!

[Ken522]

I can't imagine the prosecutor charging this as a hate crime ...

[Godwin1]

This is about the third CHITOWN murder in the last two weeks attributed to a parolee. Illinois Governor Quinn, who endorses killing innocent unborn children through all nine months of gestation, got on a moral high horse a few months back and ended the death penalty for convicted murderers. Chicago has become a very dangerous place. The Democrat politicians who run it are far more concerned about the “rights” of criminals than they are about the safety of the law-abiding. The police force is undermanned and demoralized, under the leadership of an imported political hack whose principal job is to make mayor Emmauel look good. If you can avoid it, stay away.