Lawyer Asks to be Removed From Accused La Grange Murderess' Case

North Riverside attorney Joseph N. DiNatale, who represented accused murderess, Sherry Halligan, up until she jumped bail and fled six years ago, asked Aug. 30 to withdraw and be replaced by another lawyer.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge John Joseph Hynes is expected to decide Oct. 6 on DiNatale's motion, again in the 5th Municipal District Court building, 10220 S. 76th Ave., in Bridgeview.

Halligan's new attorney could be Jack Quirk, a friend of her family.

In regard to his withdraw, DiNatale referenced the possibility of a conflict of interest because he was with Halligan, as her attorney, when she made a statement to La Grange police about her involvement in the shooting murder, Jan. 30, 2003, of her boyfriend, Dennis Campbell, in the single-family home she rented at 1050 S. Sixth Ave.

"But for her, [the body] never would have been discovered," DiNatale said.

Her brother posted $50,000 bail and she appeared in court numerous times until April 21, 2004, when she did not come to court.

Her car was found near Midway Airport in Chicago and DiNatale, a former village president in Riverside, said he thought she might have walked to a canal to take her life, something she had considered before.

"I thought she committed suicide," DiNatale said.

Halligan, now 51, was arrested July 16 at a condominium in the 11000 block of Sycamore Lane in Palos Hills, after her name and photo were publicized through the Chicago Crime Commission's Most Wanted list. She had colored her hair to dark red from blonde and changed her name to Cathy White.

"She's so little and American-looking, no one would ever notice her," DiNatale said, adding that Halligan spent the bulk of the last six years in the Palos area, and also in Oak Park.

In court Aug. 30, her hair was cut shorter than seen in the 2010 mug shot and a grey-blue smock covered a body that had gained weight around the middle while in Cook County Jail.  She is being held without bond.

Halligan has been charged with shooting Campbell five times in the chest, after—according to police—he refused to commit to marry her.

Campbell had met Halligan through an escort service she was working at, DiNatale said.

"They were in love on and off," DiNatale said.

The victim was an executive at the Electromotive Division of General Motors in McCook, Ill., and had been transferred to Jacksonsville, Fla. He was visiting Halligan in La Grange at the time he was killed.