Illinois waives death penalty in Krajcir case

MARION, Ill. -- At alleged serial killer Timothy W. Krajcir's initial court appearance in Williamson County, Ill., Wednesday afternoon, State's Attorney Charles Garnati waived the death penalty for the two murder counts Krajcir faces for a 1978 murder.

Garnati said the state agreed to take the death penalty off the table because of Krajcir's cooperation in helping authorities solve the murder of Virginia L. Witte.

Witte was found dead at her Marion apartment by her husband, David Witte, on May 12, 1978. She had been strangled to death and suffered a severe knife wound.

Marion Police Department Det. Tina Morrow said the police have collected over 100 pieces of DNA evidence in connection with the Witte murder and they're preparing to send that evidence to the state crime lab for testing.

A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 18 at 9:30 a.m. In the meantime Krajcir will remain at a supermax prison, Tamms Correctional Center in Tamms, Ill., on a $1 million bond.

In December Krajcir was charged with five counts of first-degree murder in Cape Girardeau County for the 1977 killing Mary and Brenda Parsh and Sheila Cole and the 1982 murders of Margie Call and Mildred Wallace. Krajcir won't be extradited to Missouri until the Illinois case is resolved.