Second sex assault charge may be part of Christmas slaying trial

Nearly 15 months before Lauren Kiefer was attacked on Christmas Day near Oakbrook Terrace, another young woman was raped in her home in Aurora.

She lived to tell her story. Lauren did not.

Prosecutors allege the same man is responsible for both crimes. They intend to seek the death penalty if Robert Rejda, 26, is convicted of the murder.

In court Wednesday, DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett argued potential jurors in the murder trial also should be told details about the Aurora sexual assault. Though Rejda hasn't been convicted, Birkett said there is overwhelming evidence of his guilt in both crimes.

"This evidence is absolutely relevant," Birkett said. "Both of these crimes were premeditated. He picks his victims. He plans. He lies in wait. No two crimes are identical, but there are a lot of factual similarities here."

The law allows prosecutors to use a defendant's past sex offenses, to a limit, during a pending trial to show propensity, motive or a similar pattern of such violence.

For example, the jury for Andrew Kokoraleis was told of three of his other alleged murders while he was on trial for killing Lorry Ann Borowski, 21, of Elmhurst.

Kokoraleis was a member of the so-called "Ripper Crew," linked to nearly 20 cult-like mutilation sex slayings in the early 1980s. He was the last person to be executed in Illinois in May 1999.

A shackled Rejda, sporting a Mohawk haircut, did not speak during the court hearing. DuPage Public Defender Robert Miller is fighting the request. He argued it is far too prejudicial, if allowed, for Rejda to receive a fair trial in the death-penalty case.

He grew up within a mile of 24-year-old Lauren Kiefer and, though they didn't keep in touch, the two had attended the same high school.

Her mother, Janice, discovered her daughter's body in their home after returning from a family holiday gathering about 7:15 p.m. Dec. 25. Both of them attended the party, but they left separately.

Authorities accused Rejda of breaking in through a window and then, after Lauren interrupted the burglary, beating her to death with a baseball bat he brought. She also was sexually assaulted with the bat.

Nearly 15 months earlier, another young woman was attacked Oct. 9, 2005, while stepping out of her car in the garage of her far east-side Aurora home after returning from a high school reunion. She could not identify her rapist, who covered her face with a pillow.

Birkett said Rejda was linked to both crimes through DNA evidence. He said the defendant's fingerprint also was found inside the Aurora home. That case is pending.

Also, phone records show a call was placed from Redja's home to Kiefer's the day she was killed.

DuPage Circuit Judge Michael Burke said he will rule Nov. 29 on whether the Aurora case should be allowed into the Kiefer trial.