Judge denies new trial for Marni Yang, convicted of killing former Bear’s girlfriend

A Lake County judge Monday denied Marni Yang’s request for a new trial on charges she fatally shot a pregnant woman because she was jealous of her relationship with a former Chicago Bear.

Yang, 58, is serving a life sentence for her 2011 conviction on two counts of first-degree murder for the Oct. 4, 2007, killing of Rhoni Reuter, 42, and her unborn child in Reuter’s Deerfield home.

Authorities say Yang saw the victim as a rival for the affections of former Chicago Bear Shaun Gayle, who was the father of Reuter’s baby.

In a 26-page written ruling handed down Monday, Lake County Judge Christopher R. Stride stated that new evidence cited by Yang’s defense failed to overcome the evidence of guilt against her.

“Considering all of the evidence old and new together, the defendant’s new evidence is hardly of such a conclusive character as to change the result on retrial,” Stride’ ruling states. “In the end, none of the defendant’s evidence overcomes the defendant’s own recorded voice talking to her friend at a local diner, describing how she murdered Rhoni Reuter and Reuter’s unborn child.”

Among the new evidence presented during a court hearing earlier this year was unidentified male DNA on live rounds of ammunition recovered from the scene and an expert who testified the 5-foot-tall Yang is too short to have fired the fatal shot into the 5-foot-9 Reuter.

The defense also presented a statement from a young man who claimed he stole Yang’s gun the summer before the murders, and a statement from a onetime apprentice at a Deerfield barbershop frequented by Gayle and other professional athletes, who said the former Bears safety “just didn't seem himself” at the time of the killing.

In a prepared statement, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said he is pleased with the decision and praised his staff for its work.

“We are relieved for the family that we are getting closer to finality in this case,” he continued. “Our experienced prosecutors, victim specialists and support staff have done an excellent job on this case and working with the victim’s family. We continue to keep Rhoni and her loved ones in our thoughts.”

Defense attorney Jed Stone called the judge’s decision deeply disappointing.

“Marni’s exact words were ‘How did he do this?’” Stone told reporters Monday. “She, like I, believe that there is substantial evidence of innocence. The judge disagreed with us.

“I believe there is significant, compelling, factual, scientific and observational evidence of Marni’s innocence,” he added. “I am convinced of that and I will continue fighting for that because Marni Yang is not guilty of the murder of Rhoni Reuter.”

Stone said his client intends to appeal Stride’s ruling to the state’s Second District Appellate Court. If that fails, they will ask the Illinois Supreme Court or a federal appeals court to examine the case.

“We’re going to keep fighting,” he said. “We’re not knocked out yet. We’re just knocked.”