But that all changed with the killings of seven people at a Brown's Chicken in northwest suburban Palatine during a robbery on Jan. 8, 1993.
Bob Susnjara, of ABC7's news partner, The Daily Herald, shared more about the newspaper's special two-party story on the massacre. You can read part one in the Daily Herald's edition from Sunday, January 7, 2018, or online at dailyherald.com.
[Ads /]
Two franchisees, Richard and Lynn Ehlenfeldt, and five of their employees, Michael Castro, Guadalupe Maldonado, Thomas Mennes, Marcus Nellsen and Rico Solis, were found dead in the restaurant after their family members reported them missing.
Daily Herald Timeline: Brown's Chicken murders and the aftermath
The killings rocked the suburbs and had a serious impact on the business. Within a few years, the chain had to close about 100 locations.
Police didn't make any arrests in the case until 2002, when a former girlfriend of James Degorski came forward, telling investigators he had confessed to her. He was convicted, along with former restaurant worker Juan Luna.
[Ads /]
Degorski and Luna were sentenced to life in prison without parole.