Brown's Chicken Massacre, 25 Years Later

PALATINE, IL - For many who grew up in Chicagoland during the last part of the 20th century, it was the first crime that hit so close to home. Now 25 years have passed since seven lives were lost on a cold night at the Brown's Chicken restaurant on Northwest Highway in Palatine. While the crime was solved, details of that night — Jan. 8, 1993 — are as horrifying as ever.

On that night, victims Richard Ehlenfeldt, Lynn Ehlenfeldt, Guadalupe Maldonado, Michael Castro, Rico Solis, Thomas Mennes and Marcus Nellsen encountered evil.

Confronted by two men at the end of their shift, the seven were stuffed into a freezer and killed. The later convicted murderers, Juan Luna and James Degorski, fled the area and went uncaptured for nearly a decade.

Two years ago, Patch looked back at the murders and their aftermath to mark the 23rd anniversary. A number of coincidences from the well-known case were the basis for a book published by local author Peter J. Gallanis.

READ MORE:

The Brown's Chicken Massacre, 25 Years Later

Coincidences Surrounding Brown's Chicken Massacre Basis For Book On Forgiveness