Nicholas Gutierrez, 23, killed a 51-year-old mother of four and church volunteer after she suggested he was gay, a Cook County jury decided on Nov. 3.
Gutierrez was accused of robbing, sexually assaulting and murdering Mary Stachowicz on Nov. 13, 2002, in the building where he lived at 3630 W. George. In court, the prosecution told jurors that Gutierrez allegedly strangled and stabbed Stachowicz and stuffed her bloody body into a crawl space under the floor of his apartment.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office informed Windy City Times that Gutierrez was found guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault and concealment of a homicide. He will be sentenced on Dec. 20, when he could receive the death penalty.