Lofquist family friend appeals for justice on anniversary of murder

Lauren Lofquist was their sporty little princess.

The inquisitive, green-eyed second grader loved soccer, school, baseball, playing with her friends and being a Brownie.

It was three years ago Thursday that the 8-year-old Clarendon Hills girl was found slain in her home. Her father, Neil J. Lofquist, 44, may face the death penalty if convicted of her murder.

A longtime family friend, Paul Dobroski, said the criminal case's slow pace is frustrating for Lauren's loved ones, who hope its end will offer them some sense of closure.

On this solemn anniversary, Dobroski wrote to DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett asking him not to forget Lauren.

"We are outraged that justice has not come to this case," Dobroski told the Daily Herald. "Three years is much too long for a family to live in limbo. Three years is much too long to await justice."

Lofquist is being held in the DuPage County jail without bond. He has appeared in court nearly three dozen times since his arrest three years ago. The original judge and certain lawyers on both sides have changed.

The case grew more complicated on June 26, 2006, when Lofquist made an unsuccessful suicide attempt in jail when diving head first off a weight machine.

His legal team raised mental health questions, sparking various evaluations - all of which found him mentally fit for trial.

Some legal questions have been settled, such as whether the evaluations had to be videotaped and death penalty constitutionality issues. There's also been closed-door case management conferences to update the judge on plea talks. Authorities said they've made a lot of progress, and they expect a conclusion sooner rather than later.

Birkett agreed three years is too long of a wait, but he said his prosecutors are working diligently to bring the case to an end. They meet regularly with Lauren's mother to update her.

"I always tell homicide victims' families that this is a long process," said Birkett, who has two of his top criminal prosecutors on the case. "The system is designed to safeguard the rights of the accused to ensure a fair trial and to hold the government to its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

"You have to understand it always takes more time, especially in a murder case, when the stakes are as high as they are. That's part of the system but, at the same time, the rights of victims and their families should be respected."

Lofquist is accused of choking Lauren in her bed, later stabbing her in the neck while her head was submerged in a bathroom toilet on March 26, 2006.

Authorities said the father confessed to killing Lauren to save mankind because a religious prophet told him that the child was the devil and the world would otherwise come to an end.

Initially, Lofquist repeatedly denied molesting Lauren. He later admitted inappropriately touching her twice, including the night of the murder, prosecutors have said.

Lofquist did not have a documented history of criminal or mental health problems, but his then-wife, Lisa, who later ended the 16-year marriage and retained sole custody of their young son, reported a pattern of progressively paranoid behavior in the two months leading up to the murder.

Lofquist is due to appear in court again April 16. DuPage Circuit Judge Blanche Hill Fawell is presiding.

"I just don't want anyone to forget there's still work to be done and closure for Lisa," Dobroski said. "She lost two people that day - her daughter and her husband."