Elmhurst Man Charged with First Degree Murder in Connection with Shooting of Elmhurst Teen

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett and Elmhurst Police Chief Steve Neubauer announced today that Anson Paape, 38 (d.o.b. 5/17/66) of 846 S. Hawthorne in Elmhurst has been charged with one (1) count of First Degree Murder and one (1) count of Obstruction of Justice in connection with the Friday, July 9th shooting death of eighteen (18) year old Michael Murray of Elmhurst. In addition, one (1) count each of Obstruction of Justice and Aiding a Fugitive were filed against William Larsen, 41 (d.o.b. 5-20-63) the 358 N. Spruce in Bensenville for harboring the defendant in his home.

Shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening, July 9th, while responding to an unrelated incident in Elmhurst, officers came upon several teenagers claiming a teen had been shot. Police responded to the location of 846 S. Hawthorne where they found Michael Murray dead on the couch in the lower level of the residence, apparently from a single gunshot wound to the forehead.

During the course of the investigation it was learned that there was a party held at the Paape’s home for Michael Murray. It is alleged that during the party, Paape urged four (4) teenagers to go downstairs to the lower level to play a poker-like card game. Bullets were distributed to the players and the cards were dealt. After the first round was played, the winning player was to point a gun loaded with one bullet to the head of the person to his right and pull the trigger. Instead of the winning player pulling the trigger, Paape is alleged to have loaded the gun with a single bullet, spun the cylinder and held it to the head of Michael Murray and fired one shot. The bullet discharged into the forehead of Murray. The frightened teens immediately ran from the home. Within a few minutes, Paape is alleged to have fled the scene.

The Elmhurst Police, with the assistance of the Major Crimes Task Force, immediately attempted to located Paape. He remained at large for approximately two (2) days until an anonymous tip led them to the address of William Larsen, a friend of Paape, at 358 N. Spruce in Bensenville. Upon arrival, Bensenville and Elmhurst police officers, along with members of the Major Crimes Task Force, located Paape hiding inside a trailer at this residence. He was taken into custody and transported to the Elmhurst Police Department.

Late yesterday evening, State’s Attorney Joe Birkett approved charges against Paape, including one (1) count of First Degree Murder and one count of Obstruction of Justice. Charges of Obstruction of Justice and Aiding a Fugitive, both Class 4 felonies, were approved against Larsen. Both defendants have been transported to the DuPage County Jail in Wheaton and will be in bond court this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Paape will also be charged with violation of bail bond for being in possession of firearms while on bail for domestic battery stemming from a May 2004 arrest in Lombard.

If found guilty, Paape faces penalties of from 20 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Murder and 1 to 3 years for Obstruction of Justice. This defendant also faces an additional 1 to 3 years in prison for the violation of bail bond. Larsen, if found guilty of Obstruction of Justice or Aiding a Fugitive, faces 1 to 3 years in prison.

"The alleged conduct of the defendant is outrageous and resulted in the senseless slaughter of a young man who had his whole life in front of him," commented State’s Attorney Birkett. "The shooting death of Michael Murray was not a reckless act or an accident. It was the result of a pre-meditated plan to engage in behavior that was likely to cause death. If proven, that is murder, pure and simple. This from a man who was ordered to refrain from possessing firearms and to surrender any such weapons to the police. This defendant thumbed his nose at the Court and at humanity. Now, we will do all in our power to see that he pays a heavy price."

State’s Attorney Birkett thanked the Elmhurst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Steve Neubauer, and the Major Crimes Task Force for their outstanding work in this case. Birkett also praised Assistant State’s Attorneys Tim Diamond and Beth Szerlong who worked throughout the weekend with the police on this case. "Our sympathies go out to the Murray family and all of the friends who have been devastated by this senseless act of violence."

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.