Judge opens door to death sentence in Rolling Meadows killing

The man accused of killing a young father in Rolling Meadows could be eligible for death row if convicted.

Cook County Circuit Judge John Scotillo ruled Monday that the case against Patrick Taylor of Chicago -- accused of first-degree murder in the death of rap musician Marquis Lovings in his Rolling Meadows condo -- will be treated as a capital case.

That affords Taylor's defense extra tools but also means he could ultimately be sentenced to death if convicted in the August 2006 shooting death of Lovings.

The next formal step takes place March 27, when prosecutors spell out all the "aggravating factors" that would qualify the state to seek death.

To be eligible for the death penalty in Illinois, a defendant must be at least 18 and found to have committed at least one other aggravating factor. These could include acting in a cold, calculated, premeditated manner pursuant to a preconceived plan, or intentionally killing someone while committing another felony.

A DuPage County jury last month sentenced Eric Hanson of Naperville to death for killing four family members, making him the 14th man on Illinois' death row. It's been eight years since Gov. George Ryan declared a moratorium on executing prisoners.

Following Taylor's August 2007 arrest -- nearly a year after the killing -- he was held without bail, but his bond was set at $2 million last October. A November motion to lower his bond further was denied.