Retrial denied in roommate murder case

A Cook County judge on Wednesday denied a bid for a retrial in the 2005 murder of a Palatine teacher.

In a January bench trial, Judge John Scotillo convicted Diana Thames of slaying Cindy Wolosick, her friend of 25 years.

Attorneys for Thames claimed the state had not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Scotillo acknowledged that the state never proved why Thames would kill her longtime friend. But he added that it "strained credulity to think anyone other than Thames" committed the murder.

Thames' attorney also argued DNA evidence linking her to the crime was presented too soon before trial and that the trial date did not allow the defense time to test male DNA found at the scene.

Scotillo dismissed those claims, noting that more than two years had passed between the day Wolosick was found dead in her Palatine condominium and the start of the trial. Thames and Wolosick had just returned home from a trip to Mexico.

Sentencing is set for April 14.