Man Accused Of Married Couple's Murder Wants To Act As Own Lawyer

WAUKEGAN, IL — A Waukegan man accused of murdering a Beach Park couple in their garage now wants to represent himself in court, authorities said, after his efforts to hire a private attorney were apparently hindered by a lack of money.

Timothy Triplett, 35, has been detained at Lake County Jail since his January arrest in lieu of the $500,000 cash portion of his bond. He was arraigned Tuesday on a superseding indictment containing additional charges.

Triplett pleaded not guilty to six counts of first-degree murder in the Dec. 8, 2020, homicides of Carlos Rodas Perez, 52, and Mercedes Rodas, 49, a married couple found shot to death that night after returning to their West Wadsworth Road home.

Jillian Kassel, the assistant public defender assigned to represent Triplett, told Lake County Circuit Judge Mark Levitt at the hearing that Triplett has decided to represent himself, according to a statement from the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors have formally provided notice to Triplett that the state's attorney's office plans to seek a sentence of life in prison.

Triplett, who was released on parole in March 2020 after serving about three years behind bars in connection with attempted murder charges that were later pleaded down to attempted carjacking, told the judge he was having trouble paying for a private attorney, according to the statement. He then refused to return to the jail's court area after a break in his court hearing.

Levitt said Triplett has the "absolute right" to represent himself, according to the state's attorney's office. The matter will be discussed at his next court appearance Aug. 10.

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Investigators believe the slaying stemmed from a botched robbery.

Triplett's co-defendant, 35-year-old Derenell Hill, of Waukegan, is also facing murder charges in the killing.

Hill is due back in court on Aug. 11.