The Daily Southtown reported that a Blue Island man has admitted to stabbing an acquaintance, but he claims he did so after fending off sexual advances.
The complicated domestic scenario involved the murder victim, James Burns of Willow Springs, and Burns’ roommate, Edward Rohr, who was also allegedly attacked by Burns.
The Daily Southtown said that Timothy Wanner, 24, admitted to repeatedly stabbing Burns, 50, during a New Year’s Eve fight. Wanner told police he began the fight because of ‘unwanted sexual advances’ from Burns, Cook County State’s Attorney spokesman Tom Stanton said.
‘After killing Burns and cutting the phone lines in Burns’ home, Wanner then demanded money and a car from Burns’ roommate,’ the paper said. Wanner was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Burns and aggravated domestic battery against Rohr. Cook County Judge David Sterba set Wanner’s bail at $3 million.
Wanner had stayed with Burns and Rohr several times over the past four years, prosecutors said. ‘[Wanner] had a sexual relationship with both victims,’ Stanton told the Southtown. ‘Sometime after midnight, [Rohr] went to bed and [Wanner] and Burns went to bed in a separate bedroom.’ Wanner claims he stabbed Burns when Burns made unwanted sexual advances.
Willow Springs is a village of about 5,000 people located in the Southwest Suburbs.