Suspect pleads not guilty to slaying of Deerfield woman, unborn child

The woman accused in the shooting death of a Deerfield woman and her unborn child pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Associate Judge Christopher Stride told Marni Yang, 41, she faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted of the murders of Rhoni Reuter, 42, and her unborn child. Reuter was seven months pregnant.

Assistant State's Attorney Patricia Fix said Yang, of Chicago, was jealous of Reuters relationship with former Chicago Bears safety Shaun Gayle, who was the father of Reuters unborn daughter.

On Oct. 4, 2007, Fix said, Yang fired seven shots from a 9 mm pistol into Reuter as Reuter opened the door to her apartment.

Several shots were aimed deliberately into Reuters abdomen, Fix said, resulting in Yang being charged with intentional homicide of an unborn child, as well as first-degree murder.

Yang then stole several items from Reuters apartment before fleeing, including a pearl bracelet inscribed with the word "pregnant."

A friend of Yang told police Yang had confessed the murders to her. The friend agreed to help police record Yang's telephone conversations, and at least one face-to-face conversation, in which Yang described the crime.

The friend also took police to a Cook County forest preserve where she said Yang had buried some items on the day of the slayings, and police recovered the pearl bracelet.

Stride told Yang she faces a life sentence on the murder charges because prosecutors contend the killings were done in "a cold, calculated and premeditated manner."

Yang also faces an enhanced penalty of 25 years to life in prison for committing the murder with a firearm.

Intentional homicide of an unborn child carries a 20- to 60-year sentence, and prosecutors are again seeking the 25-to-life enhancement because a firearm was used.

Yang's attorney, Jeffrey Lerner of Niles, said Yang will fight the charges.

"Ms. Yang maintains her innocence and will vigorously defend herself in this case," Lerner said after the court hearing

Gayle and about a dozen of Reuters family and friends attended the hearing but declined to comment afterward.

Yang is held without bond, and is scheduled to appear in court May 13.