Valerie McDonald, a 37-year-old African American woman, tragically lost her life on June 23, 1987, in Chicago, Illinois. She was fatally shot in the head outside her apartment building at 6100 N. Winthrop Avenue. McDonald was outside her apartment, looking for her keys, when she was shot by a man later identified as Eddie Williams. Her husband, Louia McDonald, and their two children, aged 7 and 16, witnessed the horrific incident.
The investigation into Valerie McDonald's death revealed
a complex and tragic story of a lovers' triangle. Geraldine Smith, who was having an affair with Valerie's husband, Louia McDonald, decided to have Valerie killed after Louia refused to divorce her and marry Smith. Smith conspired with her friend, Marva Golden, to find a gunman to carry out the murder. Williams was paid $400 by Smith to shoot Valerie McDonald. After the shooting, Williams fled the scene in a car that resembled one owned by Smith.
Police quickly identified and arrested the suspects involved in the conspiracy. Eddie Williams was charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Marva Golden, who admitted to helping Smith find the gunman, was also arrested and charged. Geraldine Smith was later charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. During the investigation, Smith failed a polygraph test and was eventually convicted of the crime.
The case went to trial, and in 1991, Geraldine Smith was sentenced to death for her role in the murder. However, in 1997, the Illinois Supreme Court vacated Smith's death sentence, citing that it was excessive. The court affirmed her convictions but remanded the case for a new punishment. Williams, who was initially sentenced to death, had his sentence commuted to life in prison.
Valerie McDonald's death and the subsequent legal proceedings highlighted the tragic consequences of jealousy and betrayal. The case also underscored the complexities of the legal system and the varying outcomes for those involved in such heinous crimes.
