Inmate accused of double murder seeks paralegal degree

Gary Schuning may face the death penalty if convicted of killing his mother and a prostitute, but that harsh reality hasn't stopped him from planning for his future.

The 25-year-old Addison man asked a judge Wednesday to grant him more time each week in the DuPage County jail's law library so he may obtain a paralegal degree while incarcerated.

Authorities allow the jail's 816 inmates one hour each per week in the Wheaton facility's library. Schuning asked that his privileges be increased to six weekly hours.

His attorney said Schuning is trying to glean a better understanding of the law as it relates to his case, as well as to obtain a paralegal degree through a Boulder, Col. program.

DuPage Circuit Judge John Kinsella said he'll consider the request after hearing from sheriff officials to determine if it's feasible in the crowded jail.

"I'm concerned about the precedent it may set," Kinsella said. "The sheriff has to run the jail in an orderly fashion. If every judge starts ordering as many hours as a defendants requests, it's going to be problematic."

Early Feb. 26, 2006, after returning home from a night of partying, Schuning is accused of fatally stabbing his 40-year-old mother, Doris Pagliaro, then using her credit card to hire a young prostitute to visit their house at 316 S. Yale Street in Addison.

Schuning also is charged with killing the escort, Kristi Hoenig, 21, of Chicago, that same morning after she reportedly found a bloody knife and made a panicked call to her pimp for help.

Police said the man called 911, but it was too late. They found Hoenig's partially nude body on a bedroom floor. She suffered multiple stab wounds to her chest, back, neck and head.

Authorities said they found a receipt that showed the $1,220 charge to Pagliaro's credit card for a three-way tryst. It's unclear if Schuning tried to hire a second woman.

Schuning also was injured, but prosecutors allege the stab wounds were self-inflicted. Authorities later found Pagliaro's bound and beaten body in another bedroom. She was partially nude with a knife protruding from her chest.

Schuning remains held on a $3 million bond. He has pleaded innocent. The pimp, Gordon E. Trowers, 45, of Chicago, received a four-year prison term after pleading guilty to felony pandering charges.

Prosecutors announced in August 2006 that they intend to seek the death penalty if Schuning is convicted. A trial date has not been set.

He is back in court Sept. 4, when his defense team will fight to suppress about four hours of audio and videotaped statements Schuning is alleged to have made to police upon his arrest. Kinsella also may then rule on the law library request.