Mary Jill Connelly Oberweis, a 56-year-old white female, was tragically murdered on October 1, 1993, in her home in Aurora, Illinois. On the night of her death, she was preparing for a scuba-diving trip to Florida. Around 9 PM, neighbors heard a loud crash, which was the sound of Edward Tenney and his cousin, Donald Lippert, breaking down the back door of Oberweis' home. The intruders chased her down the hallway, and Tenney fired a shot. He then walked her to a chair in the family room, placed a gun near the left side of her head, and fired. Tenney then placed the gun inside her mouth and pulled the trigger a second time.
The investigation into Oberweis' murder revealed that she was a widow and a good friend of Virginia Johannessen, another widow who lived a few houses down and was also found shot to death in her home earlier that year. Lippert and Tenney were charged with both murders. Lippert, who was 16 at the time of Johannessen's murder, testified against Tenney, implicating him in both killings. Lippert confessed to the shooting and plea-bargained an 80-year sentence for his role in the killing.
Tenney was initially sentenced to death for the murders of Oberweis, Johannessen, and Jerry Weber, who was fatally shot after being robbed. However, his death sentence was later reduced to life in prison. Lippert received a 60-year prison sentence for his involvement in the crimes.
The case of Mary Jill Connelly Oberweis' murder was spotlighted on the Investigation Discovery show "Dead of Winter," which explored the tragic events and the subsequent legal proceedings. The show highlighted the emotional impact on the victims' families and the lengthy legal battles that ensued.
