(Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional information).
Before testimonies were heard in the murder trial of asbestos attorney Randy Gori, suspect Timothy Banowetz pleaded guilty to first degree murder and two counts of armed robbery.
Banowetz had previously rejected a plea deal, according to Madison County Chief Public Defender Mary Copeland. She said last week that she and public defender Delani Hemmer urged Banowetz to accept an offer from the state for a guilty plea, but he had turned down the offer.
Then just before opening statements were set to begin Tuesday morning, Copeland announced that Banowetz had agreed to plead guilty to Count 1 of first degree murder, and the state agreed to cap the sentence at 60 years. He also agreed to plead guilty to Counts 5 and 6 of armed robbery of minors E.G. and G.G. For those charges, Copeland said he would receive day-for-day credit on each of those charges. The armed robbery charges would run concurrently with one another but consecutively with the murder charge.
All remaining counts would be dismissed for plea negotiations.
When Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp asked Banowetz if that was his understanding of the plea negotiations, he responded, "Yes it is."
During the proceeding, Madison County Assistant State's Attorney Jacob Harlow said the Madison County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to the area of 1143 Prickett Avenue in Edwardsville on Jan. 4, 2020, around 11 a.m. He said the property owner found an abandoned black Ford F150 truck. The license plate had allegedly been removed and was placed inside the vehicle. He said officers also found a Google Maps printout of Gori's rural Edwardsville home located at 4586 Mooney Creek Rd.
Harlow said the vehicle was owned by Banowetz, who could not be located. The property owner was not aware of Banowetz or the vehicle, which was towed from the property.
Harlow said that around 8:56 p.m. that same day, the Sheriff's Department responded to a 911 call at Gori's address, where they allegedly discovered Gori, 47, was deceased. This throat had been slit and he suffered multiple stab wounds, Harlow said. His hands were bound behind his back with zip ties.
Gori's minor children were found by first responders with their hands bound behind their backs with zip ties. They gave statements in the early morning hours of Jan. 5, 2020, Harlow said. They described the suspect as a Caucasian male over 6 feet tall with brown eyes and a "youngish" voice. E.G. said he believed the gun was fake, but Banowetz was also carrying a "military-style" knife with a black handle.
The children said they came home from dinner and parked in the driveway outside the garage. They got out of their vehicle when Banowetz ran up to them and Gori with what appeared to be a gun. Banowetz allegedly ordered them to the ground and bound their hands behind their backs with zip ties. Banowetz allegedly made the victims go inside the house through the garage and kept them bound on the ground. They claim he demanded US currency and searched the house for money.
Banowetz allegedly took all of their cell phones and Gori's wallet. He also allegedly took between $4,000 and $5,000 from the kitchen. Harlow said surveillance videos outside the home show a suspect ordering them to the ground, binding their hands and taking them inside the residence.
Harlow said Banowetz then fled the residence in Gori's 2020 Rolls Royce Culinan, which was later found abandoned along Zika Lane approximately 1,000 feet from where the black truck was discovered.
Before the Rolls Royce was found, Harlow said Banowetz approached members of the Major Case Squad as they were searching the area. He allegedly told officers that he was looking for his vehicle.
Harlow said Banowetz had blood stains on his clothing, which were later found to match Gori, and was wearing shoes that matched those of what the suspect was wearing on the surveillance video. Banowetz was arrested. He allegedly had more than $4,000 and a "handwritten piece of paper that appeared consistent with the preparation and planning with the armed robberies and murder in this case.”
The handwritten paper contained a list including:
- Watch with binoculars from woods
- Use gun and knife to subdue
- Zip Tie hands and duct tape mouth
- Have withdraw 4-6 million from bank
- Kill all of them and take zip ties and duct tape off
- Burn bodies and house
Napp asked if Banowetz was forced or threatened to plead guilty. He responded that he wasn't. He also said he was not offered anything to plead guilty besides the negotiated agreements in his plea deal.
Napp also said she was bound to the limited negotiations and dismissed all other counts brought against Banowetz. He was charged with three alternative counts of first degree murder, three counts of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated unlawful restraint, and an offense related to a motor vehicle.
"The court finds that Mr. Banowetz understands the charges against him, he understands the rights that he has, that he’s making a knowing and voluntary waiver of his rights. The court finds that he understands the range of penalties that exist for these offenses. The court finds that there is a sufficient basis in fact to enter into a plea of guilty.”
A pre-sentencing hearing will be scheduled prior to the sentencing hearing, where the state will present evidence in "aggravation" and the defense will present evidence in "mitigation." Banowetz will be allowed to speak if he chooses, and the victims will be able to provide impact statements if they choose.
At a news conference afterward, State’s Attorney Tom Haine said he found out about the guilty plea minutes before opening argument.
Haine said that Banowetz faces up to 70 years, and that he would argue for that many.
Someone asked why he thought Banowetz changed his plea.
Haine said, “Nothing focuses the mind like facing a jury of your peers.”
He said Randy Gori’s final act was to lead Banowetz to a distant part of the house to distract Banowetz and protect his children.
He said Banowetz approached officers where he had left his truck that had been towed away.
"Timothy Banowetz walked right out of the woods with Randy Gori’s blood on his clothes," Haine said.
He said Gori’s Rolls Royce was nearby with Gori’s blood in it and Banowetz’s DNA on the steering wheel.
He said Banowetz needed $10,000 or pharmacy school would kick him out.
Someone asked if anyone else might have been involved.
“There is nothing to indicate that anyone else was involved or that he had a relationship with Randy Gori,” Haine said.
“It was greed and envy and a warped mind that caused a horrible crime for money.”
He said he would release evidence to the public at the sentencing hearing.