Whalen to remain in jail for another week until bond hearing

Posted on July 2, 2020
Whalen was convicted and sentenced to 60 years in prison for fatally stabbing and beating his father at the elder Whalen’s downtown Bloomington bar 29-years ago. (Photo courtesy: HOI)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man, convicted of killing his father in 1991, will remain in the McLean County Jail for at least another week in a domestic violence case. That’s when a hearing is set to determine if he should be allowed to post bond.

Donald Whalen, 53, appeared before McLean County Associate Judge Sarah Duffy on two felony charges and a misdemeanor for allegedly pushing a woman he was dating on Tuesday and preventing her from leaving a residence.

Duffy granted the prosecution’s request for Whalen to undergo a domestic violence risk assessment prior to next Wednesday’s court hearing.

According to our news partner, Heart of Illinois ABC, Bloomington Police arrested Whalen following the disturbance at 907 N. Oak Street.

Authorities said the victim is the same woman who received a protection order against Whalen.

A jury found Whalen guilty of fatally stabbing and beating his father at the family’s Downtown Bloomington bar 29 years ago. He was released after posting $100,000 cash when another judge in 2019 threw out the conviction. The judge believed another trial might result in Whalen’s acquittal in the murder case.

Earlier this year, an appeals court reversed the judge’s ruling, and shortly after that, prosecutors charged him with escape for allegedly violating terms of his electronic monitoring and for violating the protection order. Whalen was free after posting almost $24,000 when he was arrested again on Tuesday.

Prosecutors charged him with unlawful restraint, domestic battery, and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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