Judge reduces bond in Whalen murder case

Posted on February 19, 2019

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A man locked up for almost 28 years for the beating and stabbing death of his father in downtown Bloomington will likely have to stay behind bars despite receiving a new trial.

The judge who ordered the new trial, Scott Drazewski, cut Donald Whalen’s bond in half to $1 million. Whalen would have to post 10 percent, $100,000, to be released from jail pending a March 15 status hearing.

In court Colleen Whalen, mother of the defendant and widow of murder victim William Whalen, testified she’s on fixed income and could not afford a high bond. The most the family could afford would be to post $10,000, according to lawyer Elliot Slosar of the University of Chicago’s Exoneration Project.

Prosecutor and Assistant State’s Attorney David Rossi argued a high bond is appropriate for someone accused of murder.

Whalen was sentenced to 60 years in prison. He is eligible for parole in just 13 months.

Judge Drazewski said while he found a new trial might produce a different result he did not acquit Whalen of murder.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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