Two Burger King workers killed in apparent botched robbery

CHICAGO -- Preliminary autopsy results indicate two people killed at a suburban fast-food restaurant died of multiple wounds from a sharp instrument, Kankakee County Coroner Robert Gessner said Sunday.

Pam Branka, a 46-year-old mother of one, and Paul Jones, 50, the manager of a Burger King in Momence, were found dead Saturday.

Jones had stab wounds on his upper right back, according to Gessner. Branka had stab wounds on the neck, chest and head. It was unclear Sunday what type of object was used.

Momence Police Chief Steven Cromwell said police have no suspects and no money was taken from either the restaurant's safe or cash registers.

"I think this is an armed robbery gone south," he said.

Police received a 911 call placed from inside the restaurant at 4:59 a.m. Saturday, Cromwell said. The woman on the phone was screaming and the call was left open, meaning the caller didn't hang up.

Police arrived at the Burger King one minute later.

Branka's body was found just outside the Burger King, Cromwell said. Jones was lying in the restaurant's entrance. His legs were propping the door open.

Cromwell said Jones had some vital signs, but died before paramedics arrived.

Evidence from the scene, including clothing from the victims, is being analyzed by the Illinois State Police crime lab.

Speaking by telephone from his rural Momence home hours after the killing Saturday, Robert Branka said his wife Pam enjoyed her job.

"She loved Burger King -- that was her life," Robert Branka, husband said. "Her family even (told her) to remember that Burger King up north ... to be careful. But she didn't want to change shifts."

Branka was referring to the Nov. 27 strangulation and stabbing death of a Burger King manager at a restaurant in Lindenhurst. James Ealy has pleaded not guilty of the murder of Mary Hutchison, 45, of Trevor, Wis. Ealy is being held without bail in the Lake County Jail.

Hutchison's family has filed a lawsuit alleging that Burger King and the local restaurant's operator were negligent in hiring Ealy, who had served prison time for rape, unlawful restraint and gun possession.

A spokeswoman for Miami-based Burger King Corp. would only say Sunday that the company was cooperating with investigators looking into the Momence killings.

"We take these matters very seriously," Lauren Hammann said. "And we are working very closely with local authorities and cannot comment further as this is an on going investigation."