Inmate accused of soliciting murders of DuPage judge, prosecutor

An imprisoned Wheaton man was charged today with soliciting the murders of four people, including the judge and prosecutor who put him behind bars for driving drunk.

Prosecutors said Gordon Vanderark told a fellow inmate, “I want to see them suffer,” when he offered $70,000 in exchange for the slayings of his ex-wife, a man described by prosecutors as an acquaintance, DuPage County Judge Blanche Hill Fawell and Prosecutor Audrey Anderson.

Vanderark was charged after the fellow inmate wrote a letter to Fawell warning that her life was in danger, State's Attorney Robert Berlin said.

Berlin said the inmate subsequently wore a wire and recorded Vanderark discussing the plan on two occasions. In one conversation, Vanderark said he didn't care if his children were present for the murder of his ex-wife, Berlin said. He also gave a message for the killer to deliver to his victims: “This is for all the people you (expletive) over,” according to prosecutors.

Fawell sentenced Vanderark last year to 18 years in prison for his 10th driving under the influence conviction, a case prosecuted by Anderson, Berlin said. Fawell later agreed to reduce the sentence to 16 years, he said.

Vanderark has been charged with four counts each of solicitation of murder and solicitation of murder for hire.