Four jurors tapped for Brian Dugan sentencing hearing

Four jurors who denied having passionate opinions about the death penalty were picked Wednesday to serve in convicted killer Brian Dugan's sentencing hearing.

The four panelists include an elderly Carol Stream stockbroker who is retired and a middle-aged female financial clerk who has a judge and police officer in her family. A Woodridge banker involved in her local government and a female Walmart supervisor from Darien who said she believes in the concept of mercy also made the final cut.

All four said they could keep an open mind and claimed to have little knowledge of the highly publicized case. Two more potential panelists remain eligible and will return Thursday to see if they are picked.

Prosecutors are seeking to execute Dugan, who pleaded guilty July 28 to murdering 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico Feb. 25, 1983, after he abducted the child from her home near Naperville. Two other men were sent to death row, but they were cleared in 1995. The girl's parents, Tom and Patricia Nicarico are attending the court proceedings. Dugan, 53, dressed in khaki slacks and a blue long-sleeved shirt, has sat quietly conversing with his defense team during the jury selection process.

The former Aurora man has been serving life prison sentences since 1985 for two other sex slayings - Donna Schnorr, 27, a Geneva nurse, and 7-year-old Melissa Ackerman of Somonauk.

Lawyers plan to pick 12 jurors and four alternates in a process that may last two weeks. A lengthy sentencing hearing will follow.

Lawyers questioned 23 people in the first two days of jury selection. DuPage Circuit Judge George Bakalis has unlimited dismissals. He's released 11 people so far, largely because of a work or school hardship or due to a particular death penalty view.

Lawyers on each side have 14 opportunities to strike a panelist. So far, both have used three.

The defense released a retired Army chaplain Wednesday who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. The panelist, who said two family members long ago suffered sexual abuse, favored the death penalty in cases where "innocent blood" is spilled.

Prosecutors promptly dismissed another man who for financial reasons said he would not impose the death penalty when Dugan is already serving life prison terms.

"It just seems absolutely ridiculous," the man said. "Why pay all this money when he's not going anywhere?"

Jury selection continues Thursday.