This episode covers the DNA that was linked to Holly's murder and that was found at the murder of a North Chicago man in 2000. In addition to covering that 2000 North Chicago murder, I also discuss issues with the 2000 murder similar to the 1992 murder of Holly and later conviction of Juan Rivera. Lastly, I discuss the problems surrounding Holly's murder investigation and the questions that still linger. This is the last episode planned, for now, unless something new is uncovered. Please share this podcast with others and let's get Holly's name and murder back in the spotlight so her murderer can finally be located and properly prosecuted.

In 2005, the DNA from the crime scene was tested and returned to an "unknown male suspect" and not to Juan Rivera. Juan's defense team requested that the FBI compare the unknown male suspect's DNA to DNA contained in the FBI's nationwide databank. The FBI refused to do so and Juan's defense team was forced to sue the Director of the FBI. Later it would come out that the DNA left at the Holly's crime scene was found at another crime scene, a 2000 crime that took place in North Chicago, Illinois. The same murderer killed two people in Lake County, IL, seven and a half years apart and less then 5 miles apart. The Waukegan Police Department is in charge of Holly's open and ongoing murder investigation which is now 32 years old. However, there is no assigned officer nor is there a dedicated Cold Case Unit working on Holly's murder. Rather it is a, when they have the time, they work on the case. Likely this means, Holly's case will remain an open and ongoing investigation for another 32 years unless the public puts pressure on the police to demand action in finding Holly's killer.

This episode is a continuation of my look into the Task Force and the Prosecutors in Holly Staker’s 1992 murder and the subsequent trial of Juan Rivera. I talk about the connection between Lou Tessmann and former prosecutor, Jeffery Pavletic. I also talk about Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Mermel and the distressing comments he made about Holly to the jury in the third trial.

32 years ago today and around this time, 11 YO, Holly Staker, will be brutally attacked, raped, and killed. Her alleged murderer will supposedly be found by the newly created Lake County Major Crime Task Force and prosecuted by the Lake County State's Attorney's Office. The alleged murderer will be found guilty, three times, but will later be exonerated. DNA linked to Holly's murder wasn't a match to her alleged murderer but it was a match to a 2000 brutal attack and murder that took place in North Chicago. So far, no male suspect has been linked to that DNA.

Holly deserves justice. She has been forgotten by the Waukegan police and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office. But she has not been forgotten by many women in and from Waukegan. We are raising our voices so people know about Holly and the injustice she and her family have faced for over 32 years. This is a tribute episode dedicated to Holly and her memory. This is a tribute episode seeking justice, real justice, for Holly.

This episode is about Task Force Officer, Lou Tessmann, and two prosecutors, Jeffrey Pavletic and Michael Mermel and their impact on the murder investigation into Holly's 1992 murder. Due to the amount of information that is covered on these individuals, "Police and Prosecutors" has been split into two parts. This is part one covering Lou Tessman and his connection to other wrongfully convicted and later exonerated men; as well as, his refusal to acknowledge that the DNA that didn't match Juan Rivera meant he arrested the wrong person and the real murderer has not been arrested for Holly's murder.

The Lake County Major Crime Task Force had numerous people in their line of vision early in the Holly Staker murder investigation. This is part 2 about those individuals who were looked at by the Task Force during the early days of the murder investigation. This second part of Interesting People also covers a party that took place the night of Holly's murder and the people present and their recollection of one of the party goers and his behavior on August 17, 1992, as well as the days that followed.

The Lake County Major Crime Task Force had numerous people in their line of vision early in the Holly Staker murder investigation. However, 10 weeks after Holly's murder, they arrested Juan Rivera who would be the Task Force's sole suspect until his exoneration in late 2011. Now that Juan Rivera has been exonerated, have these early individuals been reexamined? This episode is about the people the Task Force deemed as having information about or were persons of interest in Holly's murder. This is part 1 of 2 about those individuals who were looked at by the Task Force during the early days of the murder investigation.

Reid & Associates performed 10 polygraph examinations in connection with the 1992 Holly Staker murder investigation. Part 1 of the polygraph review, covered nine people and their examination results. This episode, Part 2, will cover Juan Rivera's polygraphs and the surrounding events leading up to Juan's alleged confession.