Officials: Acquittal will not reopen case

The fact Delia White was found not guilty of the murder of Audelia Bogard does not mean there will be a new investigation of the case, officials said Friday.

"We accept the jury's decision, but we disagree with it," Lake County Deputy State's Attorney Jeff Pavletic said.

White, 57, was accused of the Nov. 11, 2005, beating death of Bogard, 43, in the Mundelein apartment she shared with Bogard and Steven Arthurs. Arthurs is White's son and was Bogard's fiance.

Pavletic said the investigation by the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force convinced him the case was solid. Pavletic was the chief prosecutor assigned to the group.

During the weeklong trial, White was shown on videotape confessing to the crime but told the jury in live testimony her son persuaded her to falsely confess.

Pavletic said legal issues concerning the confession were resolved in an unsuccessful attempt to remove the confession from White's trial.

"There was a hearing to keep the confession out of the trial, and the judge ruled that it was obtained under every rule required by the Constitution," Pavletic said. "The only person here whose rights were violated is Audelia Bogard."

The jury of eight women and four men found White not guilty Thursday night.

Pavletic said officials would be glad to review any new evidence that comes forward in the case, but the jury's verdict would not by itself prompt a new investigation.