Convicted murderer sends card to DuPage's Birkett

DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett says convicted murderer Brian Dugan has sent him a Christmas card.

Birkett is pursuing the death penalty for Dugan, who is on trial for the 1983 abduction, rape and murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico. Dugan is already serving two life sentences for killing a 7-year-old Somonauk girl and a 27-year-old Geneva woman.

Birkett told Judge George Bakalis Tuesday that the card was sent earlier this month and featured a rural winter scene and a Christmas wreath. Birkett won't reveal the contents of the personal message he said the card contained.

He says Dugan is "playing games."

Dugan's attorneys say he didn't mean anything by sending the card. Bakalis ordered Dugan to stop contacting prosecutors directly.