Justice for Andrea Urban; Killer Found Guilty on All Counts
On January 24, 2020, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced that a jury has found Dominic Sanders, 32 (d.o.b. 2/2/1987) formerly of University Park, guilty of the 2017 murder of Andrea Urban of Hinsdale. The jury returned their verdict this afternoon following approximately three hours of deliberations and a nine-day-trial. On May 27, 2017, Sanders appeared in Bond Court where bond was denied. He has been in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time
On May 4, 2017, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Hinsdale Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call regarding an unresponsive woman in a single-family residence located in the 700 block of Town Place. Upon their arrival at the home, officers, along with medical personnel, found Andrea Urban, 51, lying on the kitchen floor with apparent knife injuries to her head and neck. Medical personnel confirmed that Ms. Urban was deceased at the home. An investigation by the Hinsdale Police Department and the Felony Investigative Assistance Team found that in the morning hours of May 4, 2017, Sanders gained entry to his victim's house. Once inside the home, a physical altercation between Sanders and Urban ensued resulting in Sanders repeatedly striking Urban in the head and slashing her throat. After the murder, Sanders fled the scene. On May 25, 2017, Sanders was taken into custody and arrested on an unrelated Will County traffic violation.
“The jury's finding of guilty is the first step in ensuring that Mr. Sanders will be held accountable for the murder of Andrea Urban," Berlin said. "This has been an extremely emotional case for all those involved. I would like to thank the Hinsdale Police Department, particularly Investigators Tom Krefft and Kevin Lackey, as well as members of the Felony Investigative Assistance Team for their truly outstanding work on this case. I would like to thank Judge Brian Telander for ensuring a fair trial for both sides. I would also like to thank Assistant State's Attorneys Bernie Murray and Cathy DeLaMar for their professionalism and diligence on this case which ultimately led to Friday's guilty verdict.”
Additionally, the jury found Sanders guilty of Home Invasion and Residential Burglary. The jury also found that the murder was exceptionally brutal or heinous indicative of wanton cruelty. This means that Sanders is eligible to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Sanders' next court appearance is scheduled for February 21, 2020 for filing of post-trial motions. Sentencing is scheduled for March 16, 2020 where Sanders will face a possible penalty of up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.