Robber 'choked student after she ignored cat calls, then molested her body'
A convicted robber choked a talented student after she ignored his cat calls, then sexually assaulted his victim’s lifeless body, police say.
Donald Thurman, 26, allegedly tried chatting to Ruth George, 19, as she walked past a CTA Blue Line station near the University of Illinois at Chicago campus early Saturday.
Prosecutors said that George ignored Thurman’s overtures, prompting him to follow her into a deserted parking garage at 1:25am.
He is then said to have put the honor roll student into a chokehold until she passed out, before dragging her onto the back seat of her Kia.
Once there, Thurman is said to have sexually assaulted George and left her face-down in the car seat.
The teenager’s family reported her missing later that morning, with police finding George’s remains after tracking her cellphone.
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Her death was ruled a homicide by strangulation.
A condom containing Thurman’s DNA was found at the scene, it is alleged.
Investigators also found his hand print on George’s Kia, and her white jacket at his home, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
They are further said to have uncovered clear surveillance camera footage of him entering the garage around the time George was killed.
Thurman was released from jail last December after serving two years of a six year sentence for armed robbery.
He now faces first-degree murder and sexual assault charges over George’s death.
The devastated student’s family paid a glowing tribute to her, saying: ‘Ruth lived out her deep faith in Jesus by loving and serving others, leaving a legacy of Christ-centered kindness and sacrifice.
‘She was the beloved baby of our family. We grieve with hope.
‘We hold no hatred towards the perpetrator, but our hope is no other girl would be harmed in this way and for a mother to never experience this type of heartache.’
Thurman had a bail hearing Tuesday, and was ordered held in jail until his next court appearance December 16.