By Matthew Walberg
Chicago Tribune
TINLEY PARK, Ill. — Tinley Park police, hoping someone might recognize the gunman’s voice, on Monday made public a second portion of a 911 recording from the Lane Bryant store where five women were slain.
“The audio was carefully edited to delete the voices of the victims and isolate the voice of the killer,” police Cmdr. Rick Bruno said in a statement. “This release is made in hopes that the voice of the murderer will be recognized, and that the person who knows the killer will contact the Tinley Park Police Department.”
The man’s voice is indistinct and police requested that media organizations not attempt to enhance the recording for fear it “may distort the voice of the offender.”
But most of the 37-second recording is garbled and difficult to decipher in snippets. At points on the recording of the store manager’s 911 call, the man can be heard saying phrases that sound like, “That’s what you do, huh?...I’m be losin’ it....Foolishness...”
On Feb. 2, five women were fatally shot in the head in the store and another was wounded in what police have termed a botched armed robbery.
The gunman walked into the Lane Bryant store near Harlem Avenue and 191st Street on the pretext of making a delivery. After chatting with the victims, he announced a holdup. He forced them to a back area where he bound them with duct tape, placed them face down on the floor and covered their heads with clothing. Police said he also fondled one of the victims.
At some point, store manager Rhoda McFarland called 911 on her cell phone. Her call was initially received by the Will County Sheriff’s Department.
In a 15-second audio release of that conversation, McFarland can be heard whispering “Lane Bryant” and “Hurry.” In Monday’s release, her voice is heard whispering the location to a Tinley Park 911 operator.
Police believe the gunman opened fire after he noticed McFarland had made the call. Killed were McFarland and customers Sarah Szafranski, Jennifer Bishop, Connie Woolfolk and Carrie Hudek Chiuso.
A 33-year-old store employee survived being shot in the neck and was able to provide a description.
So far, there have been no suspects or persons of interest in the case, Police Chief Michael O’Connell said Monday.
About five dozen investigators from Tinley Park and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force have been searching for clues to the killer’s identity.
The description of the man is 25 to 35 years old, African-American, 5-foot-9 to 6 feet tall, 200 to 230 pounds with husky build, with thick cornrows and a slim braid decorated with green beads along the right side of his face.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Tinley Park police hot line at 708-444-5394.
IN THE WEB EDITION: To hear the 37-second portion of the 911 tape released by police, go to chicagotribune.com/911tape.
Copyright 2008 The Chicago Tribune