Man accused of Christmas murder in DuPage Co. wants death penalty

A man accused of killing his former childhood classmate during a Christmas break-in near Oakbrook Terrace wants to plead guilty and be sentenced to death.

But an attorney for Robert Rejda, 26, asked a judge Tuesday to have the defendant submit to mental-health evaluations to evaluate his fitness before any such plea is accepted.

DuPage County Public Defender Robert Miller said he met with a jailed Rejda six times in the last two weeks to explain his legal options but that the defendant has remained resolute.

"He wants to give the (victim's) family some peace but, in the same respect, he wants this over with, too," Miller said. "Mr. Rejda believes a sentence of death is better than living his life in a cage."

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Rejda grew up within a mile of 24-year-old Lauren Kiefer and, though they didn't keep in touch, the two had attended the same high school.

Her mother, Janice, discovered her daughter's body in their home after returning from a family holiday gathering about 7:15 p.m. Dec. 25. Both of them attended the party, but they left separately.

Authorities accused Rejda of breaking in through a window and then, after Lauren interrupted the burglary, fatally beating her with a baseball bat. Authorities said he was linked to the crime through DNA evidence, phone records and incriminating statements.

Though Miller said he doesn't have any doubts about Rejda's mental fitness, he noted the defendant is on prescribed medication. DuPage Circuit Judge Michael Burke granted Miller's request Tuesday for the evaluations, which may be complete by next month. If Rejda is fit, and still persists in his death-penalty intentions, Miller said he would not support his client.

"I'm not standing before a judge or jury and asking for death," Miller said. "There are standards of legal representation. I will not support his wishes."

Rejda also is accused of raping another young woman, who survived, about 15 months before Kiefer's murder. That woman was attacked Oct. 9, 2005, while stepping out of her car in the garage of her far east-side Aurora home after returning from a high school reunion. She could not identify her rapist, who covered her face with a pillow. Prosecutors said Redja was linked to that crime, too, through DNA and fingerprint evidence.

Rejda is being held in the DuPage County jail.

After her 2000 high school graduation, Kiefer enrolled at Columbia College in Chicago, studying communications. She graduated in 2005 and had been working as a full-time sales associate in marketing.

Her family started the Lauren Kiefer Memorial Foundation to support an annual scholarship and anti-crime groups that help women touched by violence. For more information, visit www.rememberlaur.com.