Lawyers: DNA exonerates Lake Co. murder suspect

Lawyers for double murder suspect Jerry Hobbs III said Tuesday there is new evidence in the case that justifies releasing their client on bond.

But Lake County prosecutors claim that the evidence is neither new nor the key to the jailhouse door Hobbs wants it to be.

Hobbs, 36, has been held without bond since his arrest in the May 9, 2005, stabbing murders of his daughter, Laura, 8, and her friend Krystal Tobais, 9, in a Zion park.

The Lake County public defender's office claims a California scientist has discovered sperm on Laura Hobbs' body and clothing with a DNA profile that does not match her father's.

In a motion requesting a bond be set for Hobbs, the lawyers claim the DNA is that of the real killer of the girls.

"The defense has developed conclusive scientific evidence indicating that the charged offenses were committed by a male who has been identified by complete DNA profile," the motion reads.

But Deputy State's Attorney Jeff Pavletic said autopsies showed no evidence of sexual assault to either girl, and the sperm samples taken from Laura were too small to have been the result of sexual activity.

He said sperm is normally produced in quantities of millions or tens of millions, and those found on Laura Hobbs are in groups of one or two.

Pavletic said the sperm found on the girl is more likely the result of incidental transfer rather than through sexual assault.

He also said the defense has known of the existence of the sperm since August 2007 and questioned the timing of the defense motion.

Nonetheless, he said the DNA profile has been submitted for comparison against both state and federal databases of convicted felons.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman scheduled a hearing of the motion for Tuesday, Dec. 2.