On September 2, 1987, Donna Sauls, a woman from Cook County, Illinois, was tragically killed in a violent incident that also claimed the life of Alvin Smith and left Albert Sauls severely wounded. Donna Sauls, along with her husband Albert Sauls and their employee Alvin Smith, were at their garage in South Chicago Heights when the incident occurred. The perpetrator, James Tenner, who had known the Sauls family since the early 1970s, carried out the attack with a shotgun.
Tenner, who operated a trucking business in the same building as Albert Sauls, had a history of working with Albert in various businesses over the years.
On the day of the incident, Tenner arrived at the garage armed with a loaded shotgun. He ordered Alvin Smith back into the garage and then forced Albert Sauls, Donna Sauls, and Shirley Garza, Tenner's former girlfriend, to lie on the floor. Tenner handed ropes to Garza and Donna Sauls, instructing them to tie the hands and ankles of Smith and Albert Sauls. After binding the men, Tenner ordered Garza to tie Donna Sauls in the same manner. Tenner then moved all four victims to his garage, where he had prepared nooses for each of them. He tied up Garza and constructed a fourth noose for her. After covering their mouths with duct tape, Tenner delivered a lengthy harangue about his grievances with the victims.
Tenner then moved Garza to his office and returned to shoot the three remaining victims in their faces at point-blank range. Donna Sauls and Alvin Smith died instantly from their gunshot wounds, while Albert Sauls, who managed to free his hands and shield his face, survived the attack and later testified against Tenner. Garza was rescued by police after Tenner kidnapped her and drove off. Tenner was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, four counts of aggravated unlawful restraint, and one count of armed violence.
Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County, Tenner was convicted on all counts. At a separate sentencing hearing, the jury found Tenner eligible for the death penalty and determined that there were no mitigating circumstances sufficient to preclude its imposition. Tenner was sentenced to death, although his death sentence was stayed pending direct review by the Supreme Court of Illinois. The court ultimately affirmed Tenner's convictions and sentence, and his subsequent appeals and collateral attacks were unsuccessful. The case of People v. Tenner remains a notable example of the severe consequences of violent crime and the legal processes involved in seeking justice for the victims.
