Hanover Park man gets 35 years for dollar store murder

Just one week after celebrating the birth of her grandson in November 2008, Vatsala Thakkar was murdered as she worked alone in a Hanover Park dollar store.

On Friday, Thakkar’s oldest daughter described to a DuPage County judge how her young son “will never know the amazing person his grandma was.”

“My son will never remember those first seven days of his life when he played in her arms,” said Tejal Sheth, adding that the entire family has been left “devoid” of her mother’s love and care.

Calling Thakkar’s death “a very senseless murder,” Judge George Bakalis sentenced one of the three men responsible — Dewaun Tate of Hanover Park — to 35 years in prison. Tate, 20, must serve 100 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Prosecutors capped their sentencing recommendation at 50 years because Tate in June agreed to plead guilty to first-degree murder.

Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pawl sought the full 50-year sentence during Friday’s hearing.

Pawl said Tate agreed to rob the Dollar Plus in Hanover Park on Nov. 20, 2008, because he wanted money to buy a gun. Thakkar, a 56-year-old mother of three who was working as a clerk at the store, was stabbed repeatedly in the back after she was robbed of about $135.

Prosecutors said Tate was the one who inflicted Thakkar’s fatal injuries while the victim tried to leave the store.

“This defendant takes the life of one person to get a weapon in order to endanger the lives of other people,” Pawl said in court. “That is outrageous.”

Tate’s attorney, Brett Cummins, said Tate has mental and learning disabilities that caused him to be manipulated into committing the crime.

“There was a certain influence from Jerry Lockhart that I really think influenced his decision here,” said Cummins, a senior assistant public defender. “Without him, I don’t think this case happens.”

Lockhart, 43, of Hanover Park, was accused of planning the robbery and was sentenced in March 2011 to 30 years in prison. Co-defendant Seneca Berry, who was 15 when the robbery occurred, pleaded guilty in July 2009 and is now serving 17 years in prison.

Tate was the third and final co-defendant in the case.

“Today, the last of the men responsible for (Thakkar’s) murder has been held accountable for his actions,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. “While there is nothing that we can do to bring Vatsala back to her loved ones, perhaps with today’s sentence and the knowledge that those responsible have all been held accountable, Vatsala’s family will be able to gain some measure of closure on this horrible chapter of their lives.”