Prosecutors: Co-worker knew Carrick was murdered

A second Johnsburg man was named Saturday as knowing about the murder of a Johnsburg teen who disappeared in 2002.

Robert Render was jailed Saturday, accused of concealing the homicidal death of Brian Carrick, who was last seen on Dec. 20, 2002 at Val's Foods in Johnsburg.

Render worked at Val's with Carrick at the time, McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi said.

Authorities believe the 17-year-old Carrick was murdered but will have to prove it to make the charge stick against Render, a 22-year-old from the Johnsburg area.

"When we get to court, we have to prove that Brian Carrick was killed by foul play," Bianchi said. "We believe circumstantial evidence shows Brian Carrick was murdered."

Police found drops of Carrick's blood at Val's Foods soon after he disappeared but were unable to find any other signs of the teen.

Carrick vanished after finishing a night shift as a stock boy at the Johnsburg grocery store.

Prosecutors say Render knew Carrick was murdered but didn't report it to police.

Render was unable to post $4,000 bond and is being held at McHenry County Jail, Bianchi said.

A McHenry County judge Saturday appointed a public defender for Render.

Bianchi would not comment on whether Render was a suspect in Carrick's murder or if authorities have any suspects in the teen's death.

"They're continuing the investigation," the state's attorney said of Johnsburg police.

Render was charged Thursday with concealing Carrick's murder, a felony that carries a sentence of two to five years in prison.

Authorities last year charged another former co-worker of Carrick's with a similar charge.

Mario Casciaro, Carrick's former supervisor at Val's Foods, was charged with nine counts of perjury.

According to the charges, Casciaro lied when he told a grand jury he didn't tell another man how Carrick died, who might have killed him or where his body could be found.

Prosecutors said recorded conversations between Casciaro and another man showed otherwise.

Casciaro, a 24-year-old from McHenry, pleaded not guilty to the charges.