Marni Yang, who was convicted in 2011 for the murder of Rhoni Reuter, the pregnant girlfriend of former Chicago Bears safety Shaun Gayle, is now asserting that her confession was coerced. Reuter, seven months pregnant with Gayle’s child, was shot and killed on October 4, 2007.
Yang, who had been in a relationship with Gayle in 2007, was arrested in 2009 and subsequently convicted in 2011, receiving a mandatory life sentence.
Recently, Yang returned to court seeking a new trial. She argues that her confession was forced and points to forensic evidence, including fingerprints, as proof of her innocence.
In a 2022 interview, Yang claimed she fabricated her confession to shield her children, alleging that the police threatened to arrest her son for Reuter’s murder if she didn’t confess. Yang also asserted that she was aware of being recorded during her confession to a friend in 2021.
Yang’s attorney, Jed Stone, asserted that scientific evidence would demonstrate her incapability of committing the crime and would point to another suspect.
During the proceedings, Judge Christopher Stride approved a rehearing on various pieces of evidence, a decision opposed by Prosecutor Jason Humke.
The judge scheduled another hearing to decide whether the court will reconsider Yang’s confession and the forensic evidence.
In 2020, Yang’s attorney questioned Shaun Gayle’s alibi during Rhoni Reuter’s murder, though the police did not consider Gayle a suspect. Court documents indicate that Yang purchased a two-volume book set titled “How to Make a Disposable Silencer” and acquired the materials from Home Depot shortly before Reuter’s murder.
The next hearing in this case is scheduled for January 22.
Leave a Reply