An evidentiary hearing in the Marni Yang case is scheduled to begin Monday in the Lake County courtroom of Judge Christopher Stride.
The judge has set aside three days to hear testimony and evidence from Yang, who contends she is innocent in the 2007 fatal shooting of Rhoni Reuter at Reuter’s Deerfield condo.
Yang was convicted of first-degree murder in 2011, but her attorney, Jed Stone, has argued that there is new evidence that casts doubt on the guilty verdict.
Yang is serving a life sentence.
Authorities say she killed Reuter because Yang saw her as a rival for the attention of Shaun Gayle, a former Chicago Bears player. Yang had previously been involved with Gayle, and Reuter was pregnant with Gayle’s child when she was shot.
Stone has said in court filings that he will present an expert witness who is expected to testify that, based on bullet trajectories, Yang is too short to have been the shooter. Lake County prosecutors are expected to present their own expert.
Human trafficking awareness
January is the month set aside for awareness of human trafficking in Lake County.
There is a Lake County Coalition Against Human Trafficking, which is made up of representatives from law enforcement and related social service agencies. The group’s task force has been in the community this month, distributing leaflets and engaging in conversations to raise awareness about the issues and the supportive services available to victims.
A candlelighting ceremony was planned for Thursday at the Lake Villa Public Library. The coalition was also urging people to don something blue and post a photo on Sunday as a means of raising awareness.
For more information, go to the Lake County Coalition Against Human Trafficking page on Facebook.
K-9 searches
K-9 Gunny, the Round Lake Park police dog, has been busy this month, sniffing out illegal drugs in separate traffic stops, the department reported.
Over the Jan. 3 weekend, police said they stopped a vehicle for multiple violations. Gunny alerted to the presence of drugs, and a search of the vehicle yielded 15 grams of cocaine discovered inside, police said.
During a Jan. 5 traffic stop, Gunny’s keen nose led officers to methamphetamine and black tar heroin inside another vehicle.
Alleged offenders were charged with felony counts of drug possession.
Child porn arrest
Authorities said an Antioch man was charged after a search of his residence turned up numerous electronic images of child pornography, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.
Donald J. Ransdell, 72, of the 1000 block of Deertrail Court, was charged with possession of child pornography after officers conducted a search warrant at his home.
The Sheriff’s Office said it received a tip that someone was downloading illicit images. Police said they discovered dozens of images on devices in the home. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.
“There is zero tolerance for those who exploit children, whether online or in person,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “Our Cyber Crimes Team will continue to be relentless in their efforts to identify predators who hide behind electronics.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/law-order-column-marni-yang/
