Rian Sherrod Maiden, a 36-year-old African American male, was found shot to death inside his home in Sun River Terrace, Kankakee, Illinois, on July 5, 2014. The Kankakee County Coroner's office and county sheriff's police launched an investigation into his death. Maiden was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds, including two shots to the head, indicating a violent and deliberate act.
The investigation revealed that Rex Frank, a 22-year-old male from Sun River Terrace, was responsible
for Maiden's murder. Frank had broken into Maiden's home with the intent to burglarize it. When Maiden interrupted the burglary, Frank shot him multiple times. Frank forced Maiden to give him his ATM card and PIN number before shooting him four times, twice in the head. Frank later used the stolen money to buy jewelry for a woman he was dating.
Frank was arrested on July 11, 2014, and subsequently charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. The case against Frank was further strengthened by the discovery that the shell casings found at Maiden's crime scene matched those found at another murder scene. Frank was also convicted of the murder of Sarah Washington, a 25-year-old aspiring model, who was shot twice in the head in her Kankakee apartment on June 26, 2014. The matching shell casings from both crime scenes linked Frank to both murders.
The court proceedings against Frank included a motion to admit other-crimes evidence, which was granted. This allowed the prosecution to present details of Maiden's murder to establish a pattern of behavior and link Frank to Washington's murder. Frank's conviction for Maiden's murder played a significant role in securing his conviction for Washington's murder as well. Frank was ultimately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Sarah Washington.
The tragic death of Rian Maiden and the subsequent investigation and prosecution of Rex Frank highlight the dedication and thoroughness of the Kankakee County Sheriff's office and the judicial system in bringing justice to the victims and their families.
