65 Year Sentence for Murder of 2 ½ Year Old Willowbrook Boy

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that Randy R. Liebich, 25 (d.o.b. 07/12/79), of 1941 W. Hollywood Avenue in Hanover Park (formerly of 16W505 Mockingbird in unincorporated Willowbrook) was sentenced today to 65 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after being found guilty in July for the murder of two and a half (2 ½ ) year old Steven Quinn, Jr..  The 65 years will be served in their entirety.  Steven was the son of Liebich’s then girlfriend, Kenyatta M. Brown, whom he lived with at the time of the child’s death.  Following a July bench trial, Judge Ann Jorgensen found him guilty of Steven’s murder.  Judge Jorgensen found that while the child was in Liebich’s exclusive care, the defendant struck the child about the head and body with his hands, causing injuries that lead to Steven’s death on February 11, 2002.  At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Jorgensen declared the injuries suffered by this young child to be “extreme” and that there were no grounds to excuse this defendant’s conduct.

Testimony during the trial last month revealed that 2½ year old Steven and Liebich’s 12-day old natural daughter were in Liebich’s exclusive care at the time of the incident.  The three were together at the apartment that Liebich and Brown shared in unincorporated Willowbrook from approximately 10:00 a.m. on February 8, 2002 until approximately 4:30 p.m. when Brown returned from work.  When Brown got home that day, she observed Steven unresponsive on the floor.  She and Liebich placed Steven in the car and took him to Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago.  As a result of his condition, the child was transferred to Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago where he was placed on life support until he was pronounced dead on February 11, 2002.  No injuries were detected on Liebich’s twelve day old daughter.

Following the detection of Steven’s injuries, medical personnel at Rush-Presbyterian Medical Center contacted law enforcement officials, and an investigation ensued by authorities from the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office and the DuPage County Children’s Advocacy Center, a division of State’s Attorney Birkett’s office.   In addition, prosecutors were notified and assisted with the investigation.  On Thursday, February 28, 2002 State’s Attorney Birkett approved charges of First Degree Murder against Liebich. 

According to State’s Attorney Birkett, this case demonstrated the importance of a strong working relationship between all of the professionals who are involved in child abuse cases.

“We are very grateful to everyone who assisted us in establishing the truth in this case,” State’s Attorney Birkett declared.  “The evidence of this defendant’s guilt for the vicious murder of defenseless 2 year old Steven Quinn was overwhelming.  We are obviously grateful to Judge Jorgensen for her wisdom in seeing through attempts to shift blame to Steven’s mother.”

State’s Attorney Birkett praised Assistant State’s Attorneys Joe Ruggiero and Michael Reidy of his office for their outstanding prosecution of this case.  In addition, he thanked everyone who played a role in the investigation, charging and conviction of this defendant. 

“The acts of this defendant were reprehensible,” commented State’s Attorney Birkett.  “This man was entrusted with the care of this 2½ year old boy, and instead of protecting him, the defendant became the source of the harm that ultimately took his life.  Today’s verdict ultimately means that this defendant will never again have the opportunity to harm another child, for he will spend the rest of his life in prison.  It is our hope that Steven’s family can now put this horrible chapter of their lives behind them and hopefully begin to move forward with their lives.”