Prosecutors Consider Pursuing Life Sentence In Double Homicide

WAUKEGAN, IL — Prosecutors plan to consider seeking a life sentence for the Waukegan man charged with murder in the December shooting deaths of a married Beach Park couple.

Timothy Triplett, 34, was indicted Wednesday by a Lake County grand jury on six counts of first-degree murder in connection with the Dec. 8 shooting death of Carlos and Mercedes Rodas.

Information in the indictments "has led tot he consideration of seeking a natural life sentence for Triplett if he is convicted of the crime," according to a statement from the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

“I commend the Sheriff’s Office on their thorough investigation. Because of their outstanding work, we feel confident that we will achieve justice for the two victims in this senseless homicide,” Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement Thursday.

“Our continued condolences to the Rodas family,” he added.

An online fundraiser established on behalf of the Rodas family had raised more than $5,500 by early February.

Triplett, who was released on parole in March 2020, had been imprisoned for about three years after pleading down an attempted murder charge to attempted carjacking.

RELATED: Man Charged In Double Homicide Of Beach Park Couple

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Investigators found forensic evidence linking Triplett to the Rodas' garage, where the couple was found shot dead in another seeming botched carjacking.

Triplett has been ordered held at the Lake County Jail in lieu of the $500,000 cash portion of his bail. He is due back in court Monday to be arraigned on the new charges.