RUTH GEORGE
Ruth George, 19 had not been heard from since Friday. She was reported missing that morning when they had not heard from her.
Saturday her family tracked her cell phone to the garage where her body was found in the back seat of her own vehicle.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of death was strangulation. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
SUSPECT
Security footage from different cameras in the area showed a suspect following Ruth walk down southbound on the 700 block of South Halsted Street in to a parking garage about 1:35 AM Saturday morning. The same suspect was later seen leaving the garage at 2:10 AM walking southbound.
Donald D Thurman, 26 was charged Monday, November 25, 2019 with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault in a college campus parking garage at 760 West Taylor Street in Chicago. He had no ties to the University.
He admitted the murder and sexual assault to Detectives. He allegedly told Detectives he was angry because she wouldn't talk to him. He had seen her by a subway shop when he noticed her but she ignored him. When he followed her to her car and she continued to ignore him, he got angry. he then came from behind her, 'grabbed her around the neck from behind and put her in to a choke hold'... 'With his arms still wrapped around the victim's neck, the defendant dragged the victim from the ground and he opened her back seat car door'.
Prior record shows that Thurman was sentenced to prison for an armed robbery in 2015 and released in 2018. While he was sentenced to 6 years he only served 2.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN CHICAGO
Hundreds of students with friends came together in a vigil outside one of the campus buildings on Harris Street. A memorial was held at the location where her body was found.
Thurman was released from prison December 28, 2018 for a crime he served 2 years of a 6 year sentence. One thing is for sure. Had he done his time, Ruth George would be alive today.
According to records he is in the Stateville Correctional Center at this time. He was on parole at the time of Ruth's murder. We believe he is serving out the rest of his sentence, which states he is expected to be released from prison 12/13/2020. This does not include any charges related to Ruth's murder. It is unknown when he is expected to go to trial for Ruth's murder.
COURT UPDATES:
The last court date was January 31, 2023. Suspect Donald D Thurman, case# 20191126129 has now been transferred to the Stateville Correctional Prison in Joliet, Illinois.
He is sentenced to the following:
Count 1 MURDER 30 years
Count 2 AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT 6 years
Count 3 AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT 6 years
Count 4 ARMED ROBBERY 6 years
He will be required (if he's ever released) to register as a sex offender.
Thurman was admitted on 2/2/2023.
Parole & Release date has yet to be determined.
Pictures and information from:
Chicago Tribune
USA Today
NBC Chicago
ABC 7 Chicago
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