Bonnie Lee Ann McGowan, a 34-year-old woman from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, tragically lost her life on April 24, 1978. She was the beloved wife of Andrew Serpico and the loving mother of two daughters, Linda and Andrea. Bonnie was also the daughter of Richard and Gertrude McGowan and the sister of Dorothy Frazier. Her sudden death shocked the community and left a lasting impact on her family and friends.
The investigation into Bonnie's death revealed that she was murdered by James Free, a
man who was on leave from the Army at the time. On the day of the incident, Free entered the office of a data-processing company in Glen Ellyn, carrying a gun and a knife, and wearing a towel wrapped around his face. He attempted to rape Bonnie and a co-worker, but Bonnie managed to break away. In a horrifying turn of events, Free shot Bonnie to death and also shot the co-worker, who survived the attack.
James Free was later arrested and charged with the murder of Bonnie Lee Ann McGowan. He was convicted and sentenced to death. After years of appeals and legal proceedings, Free was executed by lethal injection on April 6, 1995, at the Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet, Illinois. The execution was witnessed by three of Bonnie's relatives, who watched on closed-circuit TV from the prison grounds.
The case of Bonnie Lee Ann McGowan's murder garnered significant media attention and highlighted the issues surrounding capital punishment and the justice system. The execution of James Free was notable as it was the first double execution in Illinois in 43 years and the first outside the South since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. The case also brought attention to the emotional toll on the victims' families and the broader implications of the death penalty.
Bonnie's tragic death and the subsequent legal proceedings against James Free remain a poignant reminder of the impact of violent crime on individuals and communities. Her memory lives on through her family and the legacy of justice that followed her untimely passing.
