1972 Murder Defendant Has 1st Will County Court Hearing

JOLIET, IL — On Wednesday morning, 76-year-old Minnesota resident Barry Whelpley appeared over a video monitor from the Will County Jail for his first court appearance in connection with the 1972 slaying of Naperville teenager Julie Hanson.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow has charged Whelpley, who has been living in Mounds View, Minnesota, with three counts of first-degree murder.

Wednesday's court hearing was short. Will County Circuit Judge David Carlson appointed the Will County Public Defender's Office to serve as Whelpley's lawyers for now. It's possible that Whelpley will hire a private practice law firm to represent him in the coming days.

Will County's criminal complaint states that Whelpley "without lawful justification, with the intent to kill or do great bodily harm to harm Julie Hanson, stabbed Julie Hanson with a knife."

Hanson was last seen alive on July 7, 1972. Her body was discovered the next day in a cornfield near 87th Street and Modaff Road after the bicycle she had been riding was found on a nearby gravel road. Naperville police say she had been stabbed numerous times.

Whelpley was booked into the Will County Jail at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday. Carlson has set bail at $10 million.

On Wednesday morning, the Naperville Police Department shared the following information on its Facebook page: "Due to extensive interest by the media and residents, we wanted to update our community on the status of this case. Barry Lee Whelpley, 76, who is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the 1972 homicide of Julie Ann Hanson, was extradited to Illinois yesterday, June 8, and is currently in custody at the Will County Jail.

Related: Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall Announces Retirement

"Thanks to everyone who has reached out in support of our department’s efforts on this case. Going forward, any information or updates about this criminal case will need to come from the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office."

To read Patch's June 4 article on the news of Whelpley's arrest in the 49-year-old Naperville slaying, go here.