The family of a 60-year-old South Holland woman found shot to death in her home in June are asking for the public’s help in finding her husband, and announcing a reward for his arrest and conviction.
A Cook County judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Joseph Wingard, who South Holland police say killed his wife, Loné P. Williams, June 22. Charges of first-degree murder were approved against Wingard by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.
In a news release, Williams’ family said her “body was discovered in a pool of blood by her son who became worried after not hearing from his mother.”
The family announced this week a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Wingard, who made headlines in 1991 when at age 17 he was found guilty of killing two pregnant women in Calumet City.
Wingard killed the two pregnant women who were neighbors of his after getting into a fight with his girlfriend earlier in the evening, according to a Chicago Tribune article at the time. He shot the first woman, 22-year-old April Fields, who was seven months pregnant, in the back of the head, and 20-year-old Shedrene D. Handy, who was two months pregnant, through the eye, the article stated.
”I could tell she was afraid, so I knew she knew I shot her (Fields), so I had to shoot her (Handy),” he is quoted as saying at the time.
Wingard was convicted of murder for the two deaths in 1994.
The family said he averted a life sentence for his crimes because he committed them as a minor. William’s daughter, Loné M. Williams, addressed the absent Wingard at a news conference outside of the Chicago Police Department headquarters.
“It breaks my heart because you do this to my mom and she cared a lot about your family and you do that to my mom,” she said.
Several friends and family spoke about Williams’ generous spirit as well as the “bad vibes” they received from Wingard.
“He had no relationship with this family,” said Loné P. Williams’ cousin, the Rev. D’Arcy Kent. “When you deal with monsters, such as this guy, that happens.”
Aspects of the relationship that affected the way Williams’ family saw Wingard included some controlling behaviors and a suspicion he was taking advantage of her recent earnings that came as a result of a personal injury lawsuit, her daughter explained.
The family’s suspicions in Wingard go beyond his criminal history and their strained relationship with him. Loné M. Williams said her brother drove passed their mother’s house and saw a car come and go from her driveway even after she was killed in her home.
“The South Holland police have confirmed that Joseph Wingard shot Ms. Williams several times and moved her deceased body in a bedroom all while living there himself for several days,” the family said in a news release.
South Holland police Chief Shawn Staples and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office did not respond to requests for comment. Wingard could not be reached.
“Joseph Wingard, you are a coward, who targets women and we will find you,” said activist Early Walker, who is helping to set up the funds for the $5,000 reward.
Walker is asking people with information on Wingard to contact the reward organizers at 312-498-1371.
hsanders@chicagotribune.com
