Killer Brian Dugan Sentenced to Death

Chicago - It was an emotional day for the family of Jeanine Nicarico.  After waiting nearly 26 years for justice, they finally got it when a DuPage County jury voted unanimously to impose the death penalty on Brian Dugan for the rape and murder of the 10-year-old Naperville girl.

“This decision is definitely a relief for us. We are shedding tears, not of sadness, but of joy,” said Jeanine’s mother Pat Nicarico.

It took jurors ten hours over two days to reach the unanimous verdict required by law to impose the death sentence on Dugan. Two holdouts finally changed their minds.

“I thought he deserved the death penalty,” said juror Michael Euringer, noting that Dugan had also been convicted, previously, of murdering seven year old Melissa Ackerman and 27 year old Donna Schnorr.

"He abducted them, he raped them and then he murdered them, and he was cited for three of those, three murders," Euringer said.

When the verdict was read Dugan showed no emotion.

The trial which lasted nearly five weeks was a major victory for prosecutors.

"Brian Dugan is a vicious monster,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett. “He received the punishment that was long deserved and long overdue for him."

Donna Schnorr's sister, who clutched a memory bear made from Donna’s nursing scrubs, said she’s waited 25 years for this day.

“It’s a long time coming, he’s getting what he deserves and no longer is he going to get away with murder," said Karen Schweitzer.

Dugan's attorney Steven Greenberg said he will appeal, and expressed disappointment with the verdict.

“We disagree because we believe that Brian Dugan, coming forward, alone was a reason to save his life,” Greenberg said. “We believe he actually saved other lives because it started the ball rolling on death penalty reform in Illinois.”

The Nicaricos said they will never really have closure, but the verdict helps even if appeals delay Dugan's execution.

“At least we have the satisfaction of knowing that Brian Dugan is on death row, some place he didn’t want to be,” said Pat Nicarico.