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. Mount Vernon and Danville are the two most dangerous cities in Illinois. If you've seen the movie "Rope," you're familiar with this crime. Did you know these were the worst cities in Illinois as far as crime is concerned? Since Kankakee measures 15.51 sq. In all, he is said to have killed at least 27 people. In 1983, Gecht was sentenced to 120 years in prison. miles. Kankakee is just 59 miles from Chicago and is more dangerous than the city known as Chiraq. Its tough to discern what is worse in Kankakee: property crime or violent crime. Assaults, burglaries, and thefts are significant problems. Elizabeth testified against both her captors in court, detailing daily rape and abuse and threats upon her life and family that kept her from fleeing. This nurse has one of the highest body counts in state history, with more than 30 confirmed and possibly hundreds more. A high poverty rate and lower household income likely play a role. Holmes and his murder The youngest, an 8-month-old baby girl, was in her crib, alive, but the rest of the home's residents were found either shot to death or bludgeoned with a hatchet. On a positive note, there are people out there coming together to combat the problems that these Illinois' cities are facing. Burglary is also high in this town with more than 900 cases per 100,000 people per year. In 2010, the three were allowed to enter an Alford plea, which allowed them to assert their innocence while acknowledging there is sufficient evidence to convict them. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing. But the hub of a car-theft ring? So what criteria did we use? Survivors would often receive prank phone calls later so the attacker could reignite their terror and feed off it. He was arrested on July 1st, 2008 in Granite City. But one thing we are sure about is our number one most dangerous city in Illinois is Rockford. Note: This articles statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. 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. We have proof that there's a lot of 'noise' in Illinois in terms of its most dangerous cities. WebCarol Rofstad, who was 21 when she was killed, lived in Normal while attending Illinois State University. 1991 was the worst year on record, with 1,229. The violent crime rate in illinois ranks 18th highest in the United States -- 9.83% worse than US average violent crime rate. That may help explain the 4,848 known property offenses committed in 2019. miles and has a rate of 99 crimes per sq. Danville has another claim to fame, though. In 2009, President Obama signed into law the "Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Not long after the family was annihilated, Lawson's brother Marion turned the murder house into a tourist attraction. Maine has its share of murderers, but perhaps the most intriguing criminal in the state's history is Christopher Knight, who evaded police for 27 years as he committed more than 1,000 burglaries of homes in the North Pond area. The property crime rate in the Prairie State ranks 38th highest in the United States -- 20.37% better than US average property crime rate. Illinois State University student Jennifer Lockmiller, 22, was found Aug. 28, 1993, strangled and stabbed in her Main Street apartment. He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move. The 20.6% poverty rate in the city bolsters the crime rate in Chicago. You probably never expected the home of Superman to be listed as one of the most dangerous towns in Illinois, but with a property crime rate that is three times higher than the state average, it has to make the list.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Chicago ranks 39th highest in America -- 79.79% worse than US average violent crime rate. Decatur is located in the center of Illinois. The object is to make it as difficult to break into your home as possible. We do recommend that you spend some time studying them before you make a move. In Illinois, 418 out of 100,000 adults face imprisonment. 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. (L) Illustration of Charles Jr. on the cover of Time magazine on May 2, 1932; (R) Bruno Richard Hauptmann faces trial in Flemington, NJ. On April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Cho shot 49 people on campus with two semi-automatic pistols, killing 32 and wounding 17. Of course, there is also one of the best crime deterrents arounda barking dog. When it comes to violent and property crimes, these cities rank highest per capita consistently, with between 163 222% higher crime occurrences than all of the other cities in Illinois. He had been involved in organized crime for many years and is presumed dead. Bloomington is one of those places. 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. One of those accomplices, Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr., shot Corll to death in the midst of the torture of two victims, Tim Kerley and Rhonda Williams. He killed 11 total. John Wayne Gacy. miles, the 75 crimes per sq. The assassination led to race riots in several U.S. cities. It wasn't until DNA technology was advanced enough that California investigators discovered the same serial rapist who terrorized Northern California in the '70s had moved south and escalated to murder, taking the lives of at least 13. This is among a city with a population of 6,366. These included both violent and property crimes. 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.

Hoch was convicted and hanged for killing one wifebut is suspected of killing FIFTY (yes, really) more. Each one has its unique character. There are 440 reports of theft this year alone in Wood River, IL. Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. According to FBI records, there were 1,020 violent crimes and 1,579 property crimes. But among the cornfields of southern Illinois, it serves as a key urban outpost. The best course of action is to steer clear of the known high-risk areas. On April 25, 2018, police announced the arrest of Joseph James DeAngelo, whose DNA matched samples found at crime scenes. If you are surprised that Chicago did not make the top 10 dangerous cities, that is entirely understandable. Its represented on all major sports fronts. The poverty rate in Illinois throughout the entire state is 12.1%. He died six days later of his injuries. Theft is far and away from the most common property crime in IL, with 187,591 thefts reported annually. Violent crimes are well above the state averages. Though not officially solved, authorities believe Rob Evans, AKA Terrence Peder Rasmussen, was responsible for all four deaths. They plotted to get rid of Girly so they could be together. Six months later, her body was found, and two "friends" who decided they no longer liked Skylar copped to plotting and executing hermurder. 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. 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. The case got a lot of media attention, likely due to the fact that Jodi was an attractive young woman, not the typical defendant one pictures with such brutal crimes, and for the graphic details about her sex life that unfolded during the trial. It also has several claims to fame, from being the subject of a Bob Dylan song to its role in the charity event Farm Aid. After all, the United States still strives to be A Shining City Upon a Hill.. According to FBI statistics, there were a total of 3,637 reported crimes for the Quincy area in the 2020 calendar year. He died of his injuries six days later. A handwriting comparison of the note that accompanied the candy to previous correspondence from Botkin linked her to the crime. You can download the data here.Most Dangerous Places To Live In Illinois FAQsIs Illinois a dangerous state?No, Illinois is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #24 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. WebDespite not ranking in the top 20 most dangerous places to live, crime is still problematic in Robbins. The property crime rate in the Prairie State ranks 38th highest in the United States -- 20.37% better than US average property crime rate. As for why he left the baby alive: "The reason I did not kill the baby was, I believe, because I did not go into the room in which the baby lay," he said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Distractify is a registered trademark. For both good and bad, Illinois has a reputation in the country and the world and hosts many high-profile concerts and events. We take a look at eight of the most famous homicides in the history of Illinois. She enlisted her hired hand, Ray Lamphere, with setting fire to the farm to obscure the identity of her remains. A former mayor once called Marion "the hub of the universe." We're not saying that there aren't little pockets of goodness in these cities. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. Maybe not enough jobs, low wages, people just don't want to work, prisons, drugs, gangs, close to larger cities that push their problems onto surrounding cities? He killed at least 33 young boys and men ranging in age from 15 to 21 and buried their bodies in the basement and crawl space of his home. In 2020 there were a total of 5,749 reported crimes. The proximity to Chi-Town has significantly impacted it, both good and bad. Most violent and non-violent crime exceeds state averages. 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. But while farms make up much of the surrounding landscape, Decatur suffers from a taste of the Chicago-style crime. You may not be at high risk for assault in Wood River, but you could easily be robbed. Our friends at RoadSnacks have compiled the statistics (which are from 2018), and weve worked with them to bring you the most important info about our state, ultimately uncovering the most dangerous towns in Illinois. I cant imagine the anger Kimberlys family must have. 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. He killed six and injured six more over a period of 18 months from May 1918 to October 1919. It is in the heart of the farm country, hence, its nickname as the Soybean Capital of the World. Rhoades is thought to have tortured and killed more than 50 women. He soon purchased an empty lot across the street and began construction of what would later become known as the Murder Castle, a hotel constructed by numerous, independent contractors which would contain secret rooms, odd-angled hallways, stairways to nowhere, a slide from an upper level to the basement, where he also installed a large fired kiln. Her story of survival and continued advocacy for survivors has inspired millions of Americans. The summer of 1976 will forever be remembered as one of the most frightening times in New York history. No wonder it serves as the headquarters of agriculture giant Archer Daniels Midland. These crimes included everything from murder and rape to property-based incidents. Its other alleged claim to fame is the birthplace of the state-fair staple, the corndog. {"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question", "name": "Is Illinois a dangerous state? Jacob Wolf and his family, plus a son of a neighbor who did chores for the family, were found dead on their Turtle Lake farm in 1920. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who delivered a speech during the proceedings. In 1989, Joseph Thomas Wesbecker went to his former workplace, a printing factory called Standard Gravure, with an AK-47, two handguns, a bayonet, and hundreds of ammunition rounds. In 2012, 16-year-old Skylar Neese snuck out of her home and disappeared. Property crimes come at a rate of 32.48 per 1,000 Chicago residents. He later sued the Chicago Police Department for $15,000. Dahmer killed him and at least four others before he was caught. Looks like the local police have their work cut out for them. Lawson then went into the woods and shot himself. Weve discussed the sobering history of the Prohibition era. He was tried in 1980 and confessed to the killings before his execution in 1994. Learn more about the safest places in Illinois.

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