Former Willowbrook man pleads guilty to woman's murder

A former Willowbrook man, Dean Norris, pleaded guilty Wednesday to the 2014 murder of 45-year-old Vanessa Cross and will face 20 to 60 years in prison, authorities said.

Norris, 61, has been held on $2 million bail in the DuPage County jail since the slaying, authorities said.

Authorities said DuPage County sheriff's deputies were called at 2 p.m. Dec. 17, 2014, for a well-being check at the residence Cross shared with Norris. When they arrived, they found Cross dead on the living room floor and saw a man running across a nearby parking lot.

The man, later identified as Norris, was stopped by deputies. Authorities said the investigation later revealed Cross and Norris had argued earlier in the day, the confrontation turned violent and Norris strangled her.

"This afternoon, Dean Norris admitted that he is responsible for the murder of Vanessa Cross," DuPage State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement Wednesday. "While nothing can be done to bring Vanessa back, perhaps with this admission, those who loved Vanessa will be able to gain some measure of closure knowing the man responsible for murder will be held accountable."

Norris is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 23 for a pre-sentence report in front of Judge Liam Brennan.