But the hub of a car-theft ring? It has the smallest population of any we considered. Its worth noting that the problems Illinois faces arent strictly a matter of big-city influence. Burglaries spiked over 50% in 2019 over the previous years figures. ", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

One of the most popular cities in Central Illinois, this town is home to about 155,000 residents and sees about 760 cases of violent crime per 100,000 people each year. In Kankakee, 1 out of 30 residents suffers property crime. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website. Property crime also isn't so great in Mount Vernon, which has the fifth highest rate of burglaries in Illinois. O'Connor killed a police officer and was scheduled to be executed when he escaped. Wood River residents reported 56 reported burglaries in Wood River this year, and that number will surely rise. Though he received an offer to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment in exchange for his confession, Hauptmann went to the chair professing his innocence. Cahokia, IL, contains the gorgeous Cahokia Mounds. Crime has been steadily increasing since 2015. On Christmas in 1929, tobacco farmer Charlie Lawson murdered his wife and six of his seven children. How does one navigate these dangerous cities when trying to make an informed decision on what city you should call home? It's a good thing it sits so close to the river. miles. With all that live-action violence going on every day, it's no wonder that the Vermilion County War Museum is one of Danville's biggest attractions. miles and has a rate of 99 crimes per sq. Joseph Miller was convicted of killing two prostitutes in the Chicago area in 1978. As part of the agreement, Heinrich wasn't tried for Jacob's murder, and the statute of limitations for his assault on Jared had expired. Many suburbs are among the safest in the state. A handwriting comparison of the note that accompanied the candy to previous correspondence from Botkin linked her to the crime. Violent crimes are well above the state averages. James Joseph "Whitey" Bulger is one of the most notorious gangsters, hit men, and rats in mobster history. Peoria also ranked as the sixth most violent place in Illinois, with 14 murders taking place and residents facing a 1 in 101 chance of being attacked in 2020. According to FBI statistics, there were 1,158 incidents of violent crimes and 4,160 property crimes. Try to avoid going north of the University of Illinois in Champaign because it is dangerous. Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot to death on the second floor of the Lorraine Hotel, now part of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN. He was beaten by police during his interrogation, which led to him spending 10 days in the hospital. Get more stories delivered right to your email. You have a 1 in 247 chance of being murdered, assaulted, or robbed in Illinois. Stewart was implicated in one of the crimes by Willie Fredd, owner of Fredds Grocery Store, who was Stewarts first victim on January 27th, 1981. Susan Smith is a child murderer who claimed a black man had carjacked her at gunpoint and drove off with her two sons in the car in 1994. The neighborhoods and shopping centers in these Illinois cities are not ALL bad. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection in 1999, but took his own life on death row in 2003. The first two victims' remains, those of an In 2005, the convicted killer and child molester killed 40-year-old Brenda Groene, her boyfriend Mark McKenzie, and her 13-year-old son Slade and kidnapped her two other children, Dylan, 9 and Shasta, 8. Distractify is a registered trademark. McKinney's lawyer later tried to mount a defense that "gay panic" caused his client to lash out at Matthew, but the judge rejected this defense. Rockfords Cheap Trick recorded a song called The Ballad of T.V. Her body was later found, dismembered, in several places throughout the city of Chicago. With a population of 26,731, these figures are a bit worrisome. This is in the context of a city with a population of 14,574 people. O'Connor killed a police officer and was scheduled to be executed when he escaped. Then, when the heat turned up, she killed her three children and staged her death by decapitating an unidentified female victim. A raisin cake Lawson's wife Marie had baked for Christmas dinner was displayed on the tour and visitors would take raisins as souvenirs until the cake was eventually protected with glass. The city also hosts several major events, including the Ravinia Festival and Taste of Chicago. 2. A medical examination determined he died from a massive skull fracture, which possibly occurred when the boy was dropped as he was carried down a ladder from his second-floor bedroom. John Wayne Gacy was a building contractor and amateur clown who was convicted of luring 33 men and boys to his home in the Chicago suburb of Norridge and strangling them to death. Hoch was convicted and hanged for killing one wifebut is suspected of killing FIFTY (yes, really) more. The Illinois cities on our most dangerous list could definitely use some TLC. Burglary is three times the state average and violent crime is right on target. The cultural attractions and museums are some of the most prestigious ones on the planet. Chicago ranks as the #44 safest out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The property crime rate in the ranks 316th highest in the United States -- 72.98% better than US average property crime rate. He was arrested on July 1st, 2008 in Granite City. Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. The murder remains unsolved, though many believed The Notorious B.I.G., AKA Christopher Wallace, was involved. Murder rates were calculated based on the FBI Uniform Crime Reports and the estimated census population of each state. It has a rich cultural history that includes spots in major Hollywood films, such as the quintessential guys movie The Blues Brothers. Joliet uses its proximity to water with its two riverboat casinos, Harrahs and the Hollywood Casino. For example, Edison Park is the safest in Chicago, while West Garfield Park is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.

Population: 27,982Rank Last Year: 30 (Up 25)Violent Crimes Per 100k: 779 (16th most dangerous)Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,247 (Sixth most dangerous)More on Granite City: |Cost Of Living|Crime Report. There are 499 crimes per sq. However, even she admitted "nothing that boy did could ever justify what happened to him.". In 2009, President Obama signed into law the "Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Shelia Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years. WebThe victims were 37-year-old Connie R. Woolfolk of Flossmoor, Illinois; 22-year-old Sarah Szafranski of Oak Forest; 42-year-old store manager Rhonda McFarland of Joliet; 33 He evaded police for 16 years until a neighbor in Santa Monica, CA, recognized him and helped federal agents take him down. If youre thinking about making a move anytime soon, maybe think twice before considering one of the worst cities in Illinois, according to FBI crime data. College towns are a mixed bag. RoadSnacks is reader-supported. Sheley was sentenced to life in prison. Assaults, burglaries, and thefts are significant problems. Read more about the story here. The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting will likely remain the most notorious crime in Connecticut history for all time. Unpleasant also describes the crime stats for this town. This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe.

"}}]}. Sadly, crime is fast becoming a daily occurrence. His nickname comes from his profession as a baker. Vermont's most notorious crime is also one if its oldest cold cases. Granite City has an industrial past. At the same time, you probably want to invest in some good home security if you're living in Cahokia, because the village experienced the third highest burglary rate in Illinois for 2020, with a burglary happening every other day on average. In 2020 there were a total of 6,559 reported crimes. This is among a city with a population of 12,696. Copyright 2023 House Grail. Dee Dee had Munchausen's by proxy and subjected her daughter to physical, mental, and emotional abuse for her entire life. The real killers have never been caught. They were never identified nor was their killer, but true crime sleuths in the state are still trying to unlock the mystery. Authorities arrested an escaped convict, Gene Leroy Hart, but he was acquitted. William George Heirens, aka The Lipstick Killer, got his name from a message he left scrawled on the wall of a victims apartment. Cultural attractions abound, with museums, art galleries, and theaters. Among the worst towns in Illinois, this town of just about 26,000 people sees around 23 murders each year. He was executed for his role. He bound, tortured, and killed 10 people in the '70s and '80s. mile rate are disturbing. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city. 2. In addition to the most dangerous towns in Illinois, youll likely want to avoid the creepiest town in Illinois, which, according to many, is Alton. Authorities said he killed 93-year-old WebCommunity Corner Illinois Cops Best Paid, But Worst At Solving Murders: Study Illinois ranked third overall nationally as the best place to be a police officer, but the state's cops We aim to deliver infotainment about where you live that your real estate agent won't tell you. Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City at age 14 and held captive for 9 months by Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee. Based on FBI statistics, Mount Vernon, Danville, Centralia, Wood River, and Springfield are the most dangerous cities in Illinois. It is located in what many may view as a desolate part of the state and is about 146 miles due south of Chicago in the middle of farm country. Illinois isnt the safest state in the country, but neither is it the worse. However, the danger some Illinois cities offer can be summed up by the 33 crimes per sq. Find out about a city before walking the streets alone. Prepare Your Lawn Mower For Spring (Lawn Mower Maintenance Checklist). WebAdolph Luetgert M Murder of Eric Morse Murders of Lee Rotatori and Thomas Freeman N Jeanine Nicarico murder case Northern Illinois University shooting R Robert Ben Theft and burglary are the biggest and most common crimes reported in Cahokia, IL. The town is about 40 miles southwest. The name of Champaign is pronounced just like the sparkling wine. So what criteria did we use? Offers may be subject to change without notice. The property crime rate in the Prairie State ranks 38th highest in the United States -- 20.37% better than US average property crime rate.

"}}]}. With a population of 78,638, these numbers are relatively low in comparison to the population, but crime is still a threat! Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city. Sadly, if you live in Danville, you have to worry about the 1 in 20 chance of property crime. Violence is another real possibility in Danville, and you face a 1 in 55 chance of falling victim to it. The three defendants, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin say they were targeted because they were misfits who enjoyed heavy metal music. miles, the 75 crimes per sq. In 1912, eight people were murdered in the night, bludgeoned to death in their beds with the blunt end of an axe. Having the second Did you know these were the worst cities in Illinois as far as crime is concerned? WebIn 2014, Nicholas Sheley, a Sterling native, was found guilty of murdering four people in a two-day killing spree in Illinois and Missouri. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Chicago might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are. He was sentenced to life in prison but died in 2017 in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Alton was founded in 1818, and, in addition to playing a role in the Civil War, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Assaults, burglaries, and thefts posted similar spikes. It doesnt matter if you dont have a pet. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Just about all crime is four times higher than the state average. Aurora has evolved from a manufacturing center to a tech one. It's the home of Royal Donut, which serves up some of the, The largest city in central Illinois and our capital, of course, is not free of crime. Next, we averaged the two rankings into one "Dangerous Index". 1919 sheet music to a Joseph John Davilla composition about the serial killer. Nearly all major crime rates exceed the state averages. Get more stories delivered right to your email. In 2020 there were a total of 5,749 reported crimes. Whether you want to DIY it or go with a craft kit, theres something for everyone this St. Patricks Day. Chasing Chains, LLC. How'd things turn so bad so quick? Just as scary, 1 in 113 residents in Kankakee live through violent crime. From 2021 to 2022, the overall number of crimes spiked from over 47,000 to nearly 67,000. But among the cornfields of southern Illinois, it serves as a key urban outpost. Former concrete worker Larry Bright was convicted of killing eight women in Peoria between 2003 and 2004. According To Safewise, These Are The 10 Safest Cities To Live In Illinois In 2021, Here Are The 10 Richest Counties In Illinois, The Best Breakfast In Illinois Is Served At This Iconic Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurant, Here Are The 10 Most Dangerous Towns In Illinois To Live In, Exploring The Abandoned Town Of Cairo, Illinois Is The Closest Thing Youll Get To Time Travel, Discover The True History Of Nauvoo, The Town In Illinois That Used To Be A Swamp, Here Are The 13 Most Dangerous Places In Illinois After Dark, people from the Windy City arent that bad. Andrew Kokoraelis was the last person to be executed in Illinois, in 2003. Bundy was executed by the state of Florida 30 years ago, yet he remains one of the most intriguing serial killers of all time. 103-year-old Loyola University Matriarch releases, Byron Lady Tigers follow in the footsteps of their, Pecatonicas season ends with loss to Fulton, IceHogs trade Adam Clendening to the Hartford Wolfpack, Report: Blackhawks dealing Patrick Kane to the Rangers, Byron Lady Tigers claim Super-Sectional win and a. Note: This articles statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website. Out of every 1,000 Springfield residents, 57 of them are victims of crime. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. A ninth victim survived by hiding beneath a bed. It has brought opportunities and funding as well as crime. While violence is reasonably under wraps, high burglary rates contribute to making this the number 9 most dangerous spot in Illinois. The 5 Weirdest And Strangest Things That Have Ever Happened In Illinois. 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