1972 Naperville Murder Defendant Enters Not Guilty Plea

JOLIET, IL — On Thursday morning, 76-year-old Barry Whelpley wore metal leg restraints, handcuffs and a gray Will County jail-issued jumpsuit as he walked slowly into Will County Judge Dave Carlson's courtroom to answer to his recent first-degree murder charges in a 49-year-old Naperville murder case.

Whelpley, formerly of Minnesota, faces four counts of first-degree murder in connection with the July 7, 1972, slaying of Naperville teenager Julie Hanson.

At Thursday's court hearing, Whelpley had a chance to become acquainted with his private defense lawyer, Terry Ekl of Lisle. Ekl has represented defendants in several high-profile Chicago area criminal cases.

Ekl asked Judge Carlson to waive the formal reading of the Will County grand jury's criminal indictment of his client. Ekl also informed the judge that a not-guilty plea was being entered on behalf of his client.

Thursday's hearing only lasted a few minutes. Ekl also advised the judge that he learned that there are more than 700 pages of documents that have been generated in the homicide investigation against his client.

One of the criminal charges filed by Will County prosecutors states that "said defendant, without lawful justification, while attempting or committing a forcible felony, rape, stabbed Julie Hanson with a knife, thereby causing the death of Julie Hanson."

The next pretrial hearing for Ekl's client was scheduled for Aug. 26 in Courtroom 405.

Whelpley will remain in the Will County Jail until he and his family can come up with $1 million cash, which is 10 percent of his $10 million bail. Whelpley has been in the Will County Jail since June 8. He was taken into custody by authorities in Minnesota back in May.