Rosemont man gets 80 years for slaying

A 25-year-old Rosemont parolee convicted in September of the 2005 slaying of Stephen Trafford, learned Thursday that he will spend the better part of his life in prison.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Chambers sentenced Kenneth Sharples, of the 10400 block of Doris Court, to 80 years for the stabbing death and kidnapping of Trafford, 39, of Palatine.

The stabbing followed an argument that took place in Trafford's car in the 2500 block of Ballard Road in Maine Township near Rosemont on March 12, 2005. Sharples stabbed and slashed Trafford more than 60 times about his head and upper body before dumping him into the back seat, police said. Sharples drove aimlessly for hours before dumping Trafford, who was still alive at the time, into a creek near Cass Avenue and Interstate 55 in unincorporated DuPage County.

Sharples later admitted stabbing Trafford and led police to the victim. A forensic pathologist testifying before a coroner's jury in June, 2005, said Trafford died from a combination of stab wounds and drowning.

Sharples had been on parole after serving 21/2 years in prison for a 2000 armed robbery conviction at the time of the slaying. His parole officer uncovered the crime when he arrived unannounced at Sharples' home the morning after the murder, noticed bloody clothes and notified the police.

Chambers sentenced Sharples to 50 years for the murder and 30 years for the kidnapping, said a spokeswoman from the Cook County State's Attorneys Office. The sentences will be served consecutively.