Willowbrook man found guilty in Darien triple murder
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Defendant Johnny Borizov listens Tuesday as DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney Joe Ruggiero gives the state's rebuttal to defense's closing arguments at Borizov's trial at the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton. Borizov was found guilty on charges of first-degree murder and solicitation of murder. POOL, Chicago Tribune, Scott Strazzante |
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Friends and relatives of the Kramer family embrace Tuesday at the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton after Johnny Borizov was found guilty of directing the murders of Jeffrey Kramer, his wife Lori and their son, Michael. POOL, Chicago Tribune, Scott Strazzante |
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Kramer family supporters embrace Tuesday at the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton after Johnny Borizov was found guilty of directing the murders of Jeffrey Kramer, his wife Lori and their son, Michael. POOL, Chicago Tribune, Scott Strazzante |
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Johnny Borizov, white shirt on left, listens as a guilty verdict is read in his trial Tuesday at the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton. POOL, Chicago Tribune, Scott Strazzante |
A Willowbrook man has been found guilty of convincing a friend to murder his ex-girlfriend and other members of her family.
It's been more than three years since Jacob Nodarse shot and killed three members of the Darien family.
On Tuesday night, a DuPage County jury ruled that Johnny Borizov, one of Nodarse's friends, orchestrated the crime. The deliberated for about 2½ hours before convicting Borizov on charges of first-degree murder and solicitation of murder.
Prosecutors said Borizov, 31, tricked Nodarse into carrying out the March 2, 2010, shootings of Jeffrey and Lori Kramer and their 20-year-old son, Mike. Borizov's defense attorneys tried to prove he's innocent.
The trial lasted more than two weeks and was the first proceeding in the Chicago area to be covered with video and still cameras.
"Today is the day that Johnny Borizov is found responsible for these crimes," Assistant State's Attorney Bernie Murray told jurors during his closing argument Tuesday.
Prosectors say Nodarse was enlisted to carry out the slayings by Borizov, who was engaged in a bitter child-custody battle with Jeffrey and Lori Kramer's daughter, Angela.
The killings happened less than two months after Angela Kramer sought legal custody of her and Borizov's then-13-month-old son. She testified during the trial that Borizov had become increasiingly controlling and was isoloating her their child from her family members.
Murray said that Borizov "hated" Angela and didn't want her and her family to custody of the child.
"This case is about his (Borizov's) motive, his plan and his manipulation of Jacob Nodarse," Murray said.
Murray said Borizov encouraged Nodarse to kill members of the Kramer family, specifically Angela Kramer and her brother, by convincing Nodarse that the Kramers would kill him and members of his own family. Borizov told Nodarse he would kill other people while Nodarse was in Darien, according to Murray
"This defendant created a false alibi and had Jacob Nodarse commit this horrific crime," Murray said.
Nodarse opened fire about 3 a.m. after shattering a window to get inside the home. Jeffrey, Lori and Mike Kramer were shot to death after being roused from sleep.
Angela Kramer survived by hiding in a closet and calling 911 while her older brother and his girlfriend managed to escape — one of them through a window.
After the shooting, Nodarse fled to his parents' home in Florida, where authorities apprehended him the next day.
In September 2011, Nodarse pleaded guilty but mentally ill to first-degree murder in a plea deal that required him to testify during Borizov's trial.
Borizov's attorneys have said there's no solid evidence Borizov was involved other than unreliable statements by Nodarse, who has a history of drug use and mental illness. At the time of the killings, Borizov was videotaped gambling at a Joliet casino.
But Murray said the fact that Borizov was at a casino in the middle of the night was "part of the scheme he put together to ensure he gets away with this."
"This is not an alibi," Murray said. "It's proof of the plan that he concocted with Jacob Nodarse."
Murray said Nodarse's mental issues had nothing to do with what happened.
"This isn't a fog of mental illness," he said. "This is a fog of Johnny Borizov's bag of B.S."
