Police capture Elmhurst man sought in youth's death
July 12, 2004
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS Advertisement


ELMHURST, Ill. -- Police say they have arrested an Elmhurst man who was the subject of a nationwide alert after a high school student was found shot to death at his home.

Anson Paape, 38, a sporadically employed tree-trimmer wanted for questioning in the shooting death, was arrested late Sunday, police said.

Paape's family issued a public plea for his surrender Sunday, a day after police from this western Chicago suburb and other jurisdictions combed a local park in an intensive manhunt for the missing man. They used a helicopter, a bloodhound and infrared heat-sensing equipment in their search for Paape, who was said to be a skilled tree-climber and outdoorsman.

"I want this to end without you being injured," pleaded Paape's wife, Victoria, who told police her husband fled on foot without any credit cards and with little cash.

Paape disappeared Friday evening shortly before police found the body of Michael Murray in the basement of Paape's house. Authorities said the youth, who had been celebrating his 18th birthday, would have been a senior this fall at York Community High School in Elmhurst.

The DuPage County Coroner's office said Murray died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

Neighbors said they saw Paape's five daughters and stepdaughters, along with some boys, running from the home shortly after they heard a gunshot.

Police said they were investigating witness reports that Murray had been killed when Paape tried to urge some of the young people into participating in a game resembling Russian roulette.

"He was trying to encourage them to participate in a game where a bullet was placed in the cylinder of a revolver-type weapon and where it would be discharged at the person next to them," said Elmhurst Detective Commander Raymond G. Turano.

"The young man that was the victim did not want to engage in this, whereupon witness statements indicate Mr. Paape challenged the victim's courage and pointed the gun in his direction and pulled the trigger," Turano said.

Police said Paape had been in county custody three times since 2002, each time on charges of domestic battery. They said the most recent time had been last month, when he spent four days in the DuPage County Jail before posting $10,000 bond on June 10.

funny topic... when does russian roulette "go right"?

"It was a perfectly pleasant game of R.R. until Michael had to go and f*ck it up..."

u guys lie im his daughter i was there dont make up lies do u want to no the truth about what really happened that night? Amanda Grissette

So you're saying you're Amanda Grissette? Somehow I doubt that and do you know why I do? Because I know Mandy. Until about 2 months before this incident, she was my best friend but go ahead and say what really happened. Please amuse me.