Testimony begins in quadruple murder case

After rescuers forced open the door, Chiu-Ter Tsao rushed past the bloodshed and up the stairs without realizing one of the bodies he saw was his younger brother.

"I called out his name," he said. "Jimmy. Jimmy."

Tsao said he repeated his brother's name up to six times as he searched, praying in vain for a response that would not come.

Jimmy Tsao suffered such a brutal beating that even his own brother didn't recognize him. His remains were found Sept. 29, 2005, in his upscale Aurora home, near the bodies of his wife and her parents.

The horror that unfolded there was told Thursday to a solemn DuPage County jury at the opening of a quadruple murder trial.

More Coverage Stories Testimony begins in quadruple murder case [02/01/08] Eric Hanson: 'All I know is, I didn't do it' [01/28/08] How authorities came to charge Eric Hanson [01/27/08] Multimedia Photo Gallery: Hanson trial: Synopsis Photo Gallery: Hanson trial legal team Video: Hanson trial: victims Daily Herald Archives Four in family found slain [09/30/05] Police question victims' relative [10/01/05] Fireplace poker could be crucial piece of puzzle [10/02/05] Relative fighting extradition [10/04/05] Charges loom in quadruple murder case [11/04/05] Suspect set for return to Illinois [11/09/05] Details in quadruple homicide [12/09/05] Death penalty sought in four murders [02/18/06] Alleged threat can be heard [05/18/06] Judge will allow tape in court [05/23/06] Family details get out [06/21/07] The Full Reports Nov. 4 arrest warrant Wisc. extradition request Wisc. arrest warrant Sept. 29 arrest warrant Intimidation charge

Eric C. Hanson is charged with fatally beating his sister, Katherine "Kate" Hanson-Tsao, 31, and her husband, Jimmy, 34, and shooting his parents, Terrance, 57, and Mary Lynn, 55.

Hanson, 31, maintains his innocence and will testify. The former mortgage broker, who lived with his parents in Naperville, may face the death penalty if convicted.

His only living sibling, Jennifer Williams, buried her face in her hands and wept as prosecutors described a crime that was so savage, blood even covered treasured family photos on a fireplace mantel.

Prosecutor Michael Wolfe said physical evidence, a reconstructed timeline and testimony will prove Hanson made good on an Aug. 13 threat to kill Kate if she told their father about Eric's $80,000 of credit card fraud, mostly in his mother's name.

Williams, the one who alleged the threat, will testify later in the trial.

Wolfe said Hanson stole from his parents to keep up a jet-setting lifestyle of expensive electronics, cars, jewelry and vacations.

"It's a motive as old as time -- greed," Wolfe said.

Hanson admits the thefts, though he isn't certain how much money was involved. DuPage County Public Defender Robert Miller argued Hanson was repaying his parents.

He said prosecutors lack a confession, witnesses and the murder weapons. Miller said there isn't one fingerprint or any DNA evidence linking Hanson to the scene, including a bloody shoe print at the Tsao home.

"Everyone assumes Eric Hanson must be the one who was involved," Miller said.

Authorities theorize the elder couple was executed in their home on Rock Spring Court in Naperville, then taken 5 miles to the White Eagle subdivision. Back in Naperville, evidence technicians found the elder couple's blood after flipping over a mattress.

Miller said Eric Hanson did not hear a disturbance. He left for the airport the next morning, assuming his parents were at work. Police later found some money and a note in the kitchen. It was from Eric, wishing them a fun weekend in Galena.

Hanson was arrested Sept. 30, 2005, near Portage, Wis., hours after returning from a one-day trip to Los Angeles to visit his ex-fiancee. He was on his way to Minnesota, where Jennifer lives.

Hanson was held on an intimidation warrant for the alleged threat. More than one month later, prosecutors charged him with murder. They said his SUV held key evidence: A glove contained Terry's blood; Eric also had Kate's $30,000 ring and Jimmy's Rolex. On the witness stand, Chiu-Ter Tsao identified the Rolex -- which he said he bought his slain brother.

The trial, before DuPage Circuit Judge Robert Anderson, continues this morning in Wheaton.