Robert E. Crimo, III appears for a case management meeting before Judge Victoria A. Rossetti at the at the Lake County Courthouse Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 in Waukegan, Ill. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)
Robert Crimo III, who is accused of killing seven people and wounding dozens of others during the 2022 Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, will go to trial on numerous charges early next year.
Crimo III was briefly set to go to trial this month after he temporarily demanded to represent himself. But after he changed his mind, Judge Victoria Rossetti on Wednesday reset the initial Feb. 24, 2025, trial date.
“Just because Mr. Crimo for a short period of time asked to represent himself, I don’t think that should change the trial date,” Rossetti said during Wednesday’s hearing.
Crimo III was indicted in 2022 on 117 charges, including 21 counts of first-degree murder stemming from the mass shooting. He faces a minimum of 45 years on each murder count and would receive a life sentence if convicted on more than one of those counts.
He allegedly fired more than 80 rounds from a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 semi-automatic rifle during the attack and disguised himself in women’s clothing in order to conceal distinctive face and neck tattoos and blend into the crowd as he made his escape.
More than 50 people were shot, including seven people who were killed: 64-year-old Katherine Goldstein, 35-year-old Irina McCarthy and her 37-year-old husband Kevin McCarthy, 63-year-old Jacquelyn Sundheim, 88-year-old Stephen Straus, 78-year-old Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza and 69-year-old Eduardo Uvaldo.
His defense attorney last month suggested moving the trial back to February 2025. But Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said his office has already “extended significant resources” preparing for a trial that was expected to begin in a matter of weeks. He asked for the trial to be moved to sometime in September or October this year.
"Our office would have been ready for trial this month,” Rinehart said in a statement. “Our team of prosecutors and victim specialist have been meeting with and talking with the victims since this horrible crime. We will continue to do so. The most important thing is that we secure certain justice as best as we can for the victims, families, survivors, and the entire Lake County community."
Crimo III surprised observers in December when he announced he intended to represent himself at trial, despite having no legal training and an admonishment from Rossetti that he would not receive any special privileges while detained in jail as he prepared for the case.
But he backtracked last month and once again retained a public defender.
He is due back in court for a hearing April 24.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
