(Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information)
Timothy Banowetz was sentenced Friday to 60 years for the first degree murder of asbestos attorney Randy Gori and 10 years for armed robbery by Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp.
The two-hour sentencing hearing began at 1:30 in Napp’s courtroom.
Napp
Napp asked Banowetz if he had any arguments about what he thought his sentence should be.
He responded, “It really doesn’t matter.”
Banowetz also declined making a statement in allocution.
He was sentenced to the maximum allowed after he previously reached a plea deal just before testimonies were heard at trial on Oct. 5. According to the plea deal, he agreed to plead guilty to Count 1 for first degree murder and Counts 5 and 6 for armed robbery of minors Grace and Ethan Gori. All other counts were dismissed.
“Mr. Banowetz, you committed a premeditated, planned brutal act. You terrorized two children, and then you brutally murdered a man,” Napp said. “And you are an absolute danger to society.”
“And you are correct,” she added. “I am sentencing you to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on Count 1 for first degree murder. You must serve every day of that sentence. Upon release from prison, you’d be subject to a mandatory supervised release period of three years.
“As to the charges of armed robbery, it is the sentence of the court, you are hereby sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. That sentence is to run day-for-day. That means that for every day you spent in custody, you should receive a day’s credit.”
Banowetz’s sentence for armed robbery are to run concurrent with each other but consecutively with his sentence for murder.
Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine said Banowetz must serve at least 65 years of his 70-year sentence and will be imprisoned until he is at least 93 years old.
“No sentence can heal the wounds such a cruel and heartless crime has caused to friends and family alike,” Haine stated, “but at least with this sentence we can all obtain a certain closure in knowing that Randy Gori’s murderer will, almost certainly, never see the light of day as a free man again. All of our prayers remain with the Gori family who have shown such courage and resilience in the midst of this tragic situation, and now deserve privacy and respect so they can continue the healing process.”
“I’m incredibly appreciative of the hard work of Assistant State’s Attorneys Jacob Harlow and Lauren Maricle as well as the members of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Edwardsville Police Department, and Major Case Squad for their efforts in investigating and prosecuting this case,” he added. “I’m also appreciative of Judge Napp for her fair, and professional proceedings throughout this case.”
During the hearing, Napp informed Banowetz that he has the right to appeal the sentence or to have the guilty plea vacated. If he chose to appeal, Napp said a trial date would be set and the state would be allowed to reinstate the charges that were previously dismissed.
Just before the sentencing hearing began, Banowetz chose to proceed pro se and attempted to withdraw his guilty plea.
Madison County Public Defender Mary Copeland told Napp that Banowetz informed her that he would no longer like her to represent him just “moments before."
“It is an unusual situation that the court finds itself in today,” Napp said.
She explained that defendants who wish to represent themselves typically make that decision during trial.
“In the very short time that I’ve had to review that, I believe that you have the right to represent yourself,” Napp said. “I don’t recommend it.”
“While I think that you are educationally an intelligent person, representing yourself at hearings is not like anything you see on TV,” she added.
She urged Banowetz to allow Copeland to represent him and made sure he understood the risks he was taking.
“I will give you the opportunity to represent yourself at this sentencing hearing,” Napp said. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Mr. Banowetz. And I wish you wouldn’t make that decision. But ultimately the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Illinois says that you have that right.”
Napp asked Copeland to remain as a “standby counsel,” so Banowetz could ask her questions if necessary.
After establishing that Banowetz would be representing himself, Napp asked him if he received the pre-sentencing investigation and addendums. He said he didn’t. She responded that he refused to cooperate with the pre-sentencing investigation, which is his right, but wanted to know if he was told about its contents by Copeland.
Banowetz’s response could not be heard, but Napp told him they were not there to withdraw a plea. She said he could file a post-conviction motion to withdraw his plea after the sentencing.
Napp turned to Copeland and asked if he received the letters and the pre-sentencing investigation. She explained that he did.
Napp again asked Banowetz if his attorney discussed the investigation and addendums with him. He again said she didn’t.
“Mr. Banowetz, we’re going to a sentencing hearing today because I don’t believe that you are going to cooperate with anything,” Napp said. “You’re going to throw up roadblocks every chance you get to stop this, just like you did the trial. So we’re going to proceed to a sentencing hearing today. And I will give you your appeal rights, and you can appeal. But you’re not going to keep throwing up roadblocks. You have rights and I will ensure that they are all followed to a T, but I’m not going to let you play games anymore.”
Jan. 4, 2020
Detective Lieutenant Bryan Bauer of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department testified that at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2020, the owner of a wooded farm property near Gori’s Mooney Creek Lane home in Edwardsville called about an abandoned black Ford F150 truck parked near a cell tower. The vehicle’s plates were removed and the VIN plate was covered with clothing. Officers gained entry and was able to run the VIN plate, finding that it matched Banowetz. He testified that officers found a map of the area and located the two license plates in the center console.
Bauer said the license plates were associated with two different addresses. The first was College of the Ozarks near Branson, Mo., which is where Banowetz attended college roughly 10 years ago. The second address was in Wentzville, Mo. He said officers made contact with the current resident of the Wentzville address, but the resident had no knowledge of who Banowetz was.
Bauer said officers contacted Banowetz’s parents, who said their son had “little to no contact” with the family.
Bauer testified that prior records show that Banowetz’s mother previously contacted the O’Fallon Police Department to report that her son suffered from depression or suicidal thoughts. He said the officers then “stepped up” their search efforts using drones, all terrain vehicles and k-9 units. Banowetz was not found.
Bauer testified that shortly before 9 p.m., the department received an emergency call at Gori’s home. He said Gori’s girlfriend, Caroline Kasa, made the “frantic” call. He said she was there to meet Gori’s children for the first time and parked near the detached garage. She had two adult German shepherd dogs with her. While she was outside, she was confronted by a masked individual with a “large knife.” Bauer said the man came at her “aggressively.” The dogs attacked the masked individual, who grabbed her keys and threw them into the wooded area. He then left in Gori’s 2020 Rolls Royce Cullinan.
Bauer testified that when officers arrived, they could see Gori’s children through a window in the laundry room with their hands bound behind their backs with zip ties.
Gori was found in the basement bedroom near the bar area. He was deceased when officers arrived after suffering 40 stab wounds to the back and an incised wound to the neck.
Exterior surveillance cameras showed the family parking outside the garage and beginning to enter the home through the garage. Detective Sergeant Tim Lawrence with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department’s cyber crime’s division provided testimony on the computer forensics. He testified that the surveillance cameras were working properly and matched the evidence from the scene.
He said they primarily focused on the cameras viewing the driveway, the parking area, and the detached garage. The surveillance footage was shown during the hearing, which depicted Gori and his children parking outside the home, exiting the vehicle and walking towards the garage. A masked individual is seen running up to the family with a gun pointing at them. Startled, they put their hands up and can be seen getting down on the ground. The masked individual then appears to be binding their hands behind their backs and instructing them to get up. The children appear to be ordered inside. Then the masked individual grabs Gori and walks in with him.
After the murder
Bauer said that as they were searching the area after the murder, an individual matching Banowetz’s description approached them and identified himself. Bauer said Banowetz obtained his wallet to provide his identification, and investigators witnessed that Banowetz’s wallet was full of cash and would not completely close. Investigators later learned the wallet contained $4,660.
Banowetz was wearing shorts, tennis shoes and a hooded sweatshirt with a few shirts underneath. He said he was looking for his truck after attending a bonfire there a couple weeks ago. Bauer said the property owner said there was no bonfire in the area. Banowetz provided no answers to questions about who he was with during the alleged bonfire.
Banowetz was taken in for questioning. While being patted down for weapons, investigators noticed a blood-like substance on the bottom of one of his shirts. The shirt was later sent to the Illinois State crime lab, and the blood matched Gori’s DNA.
Also, a white piece of paper fell to the ground with notes written on it. Banowetz said the paper contained notes for school. Bauer read the various lists contained on the note.
At the top left, the note reads:
- Leave phone + both computers here
- Print out map pictures for kids and wife
- Remove plates from truck
- Walmart returns
- Iron spray
- Buy at Walmart
- 2 big jugs of water
- Zip ties
- Poncho
- Get $6.50 of gas
- Take off license plates and cover VIN before neighborhood
- Park in woods past cell phone tower
- Grab from car
- Duck (sic) tape
- Mask material
- Clear tape
- Scissors
- Return items to Walmart over the river
At the lower portion of the note, Banowetz wrote four sections: me, to survive, weapons, to conceal. The “me” column contains clothing items in the list. The “to survive” column includes, water bottle, jugs of water, bags of cereal, blanket, poncho and bags to cover the duffle bag. Under the weapons section, the list included “big hunting knife,” pepper spray, fake gun and zip ties. The “to conceal” column includes: mask to cover face, sunglasses, binoculars, extra duffle bag, duct tape and zip ties.
Under the columns, the note contains instructions:
- Watch with binoculars from woods
- Use gun and knife to subdue (pepper spray in worst case scenario)
- Zip tie hands, duct tape mouth
- Have withdraw $4-6 million from bank
- Kill all of them
- Take zip ties and duct tape off
- Burn bodies and house
- Put plates back on + uncover VIN
- Grab phone + both computers from school
- Put gas in car
- Stay at extended stay America St. Peters on top floor suite
- Get school picture taken before the 13th
Bauer said that while Banowetz was being questioned, investigators located the Rolls Royce. They found a blood-like substance on the steering wheel. The DNA matched both Gori and Banowetz.
Bauer testified that detectives searched Banowetz’s “study room” at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, where he was a student, and recovered two computers and a cell phone. He said a forensic analysis was completed on the computers, but they were unable to gain access to the cell phone.
He said the phone was attached to a machine through the secret service for a year and a half in attempts to unlock the device. He said Banowetz eventually said he knew the code and was given opportunities to unlock the phone but couldn’t provide the correct password.
In a second interview, Bauer said Banowetz told detectives that he had an “extreme disdain for people with wealth and thought life was easy for them while others struggle.”
Bauer added that once Banowetz was pushed to provide details of the crime and why, he would say, “I couldn’t talk about it, but you have all the answers. There’s nothing you need to know from me. You already have all the answers.”
Bauer testified that he was unable to determine any connection between Banowetz and Gori.
Detective Lieutenant Brian Koberna with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office testified about the search history and contents extracted from Banowetz’s computers. Koberna said his analysis of the computer showed no connection between Gori and Banowetz.
Koberna said Banowetz performed “extensive searches” on Gori and his family dating back to September 2019. He searched for Instagram photographs of the family, researched the law firm, property addresses, tax records, and other in-depth research related to Gori.
Koberna explained that Banowetz would research things related to Gori and then start looking at fake guns, zip ties, and other related searches.
Banowetz also had “an unusual affinity” to the Herschend family of Herschend Family Entertainment. The family owns various theme parks, including Silver Dollar City near Branson, Mo. Specifically, Banowetz focused on information about Bradley Herschend and a large estate outside of Branson.
Koberna added that surveillance video from the Maplewood, Mo., Walmart on Dec. 31, 2019, at 10:49 p.m. shows Banowetz stealing zip ties in the self checkout lane.
Victim impact statements
Sara Salger, of The Gori Firm, read Beth Gori’s statement on her behalf.
“Jan. 4, 2020, was the worst day of my life. I received a call at home that something happened at Randy’s house. My kids were with him that night. I was halfway to Edwardsville from my home in St. Louis when I finally received word that my kids were not physically harmed. I use the word ‘physically’ with great intent. The kids I said goodbye to that day when their father picked them up from my house, I will never see again. They were happy, innocent, and loving children that day. The evil acts of one man took that innocence and safety from them, along with taking their father. I was 22 years old when I met Randy Gori. He was my husband and the father of my children. He was not a perfect man, but he loved his children above all else. It is truly heartbreaking that the children he knew are not the same children today. I’ve watched with complete devastation the true agony and suffering my children have endured. I have held them while they cried and tried to get them as much help in every way that I can. My children see the world differently now. They’ve learned that true evil exists in this world, and I suffer from intense separation anxiety and have had to learn to manage my anxiety as well. Leaving them alone is difficult even though they are teenagers. The PTSD they have will most likely follow them throughout their lives. No one should have to live in fear that way. We’ve all three ungone intense therapy to help us through this horrific event. I do not know how long that therapy will continue, but this nightmare follows us every day of our lives. The hardest part for my children is having to learn to live without their father. They miss him so tremendously. They miss him at holidays and birthdays, but most of all on the everyday interactions that make a family. One of the hardest things I felt was my first parent teacher conference after Randy’s murder. I went to the conference and I got in my car and wanted to call and tell him about what they said and it hit my like a ton of bricks that I will never share these milestones with him again. My daughter had a solo in the Spring musical in the Spring of 2021 and I couldn’t keep it together during the performance. The pride I felt for her was overwhelming, and it hurts so much that Randy couldn’t be there for it. I lost my partner in the parenting of my kids. While I have family and friends, no one shares your pride and love like a parent does. He will miss out on so much more, their graduations, their weddings, and his grandchildren. I miss him. They miss him. We all miss him. This isn’t just about the life that was cut short of a man that helped everyone he ever met. Randy was a trusting man. He was a caring man that believed in helping others when he could. But this is also about the family and children he left behind. This murderer took away my kids’ sense of safety, their father, their friend and their many memories they had still yet to make. He came into my family’s home and took my children’s sense of security, their sense of home, their visions of the world, their innocence and their father. Randy was brutally murdered in the safety of his own home. This man is a threat to all members of society and should be locked away for the maximum amount of time to secure the safety of my children, my family, my friends, and all of us.”
Randy Gori’s father, Lee Gori, read an impact statement on behalf of himself and Randy Gori’s mother, Judy Gori.
“First of all I’d like to thank all of the legal prosecuting attorneys, the law enforcement and investigators for performing a great job in capturing and collecting the evidence to incarcerate Timothy Banowetz for the murder of our son Randy Gori. I’d also like to thank Caroline Kasa and her mighty dogs for saving our two grandchildren’s lives on the night of January 4, 2020,of the murder. Randy was a wonderful child. He studied hard, he played hard and he worked hard. As a child, he enjoyed playing with matchbox and hotwheel cars. He would separate them all - exotic cars and everyday cars. He knew at some point in his life he wanted a job to help people and to own an exotic car. He knew to own an exotic car, he would need a job that could support his dreams. He was committed to his goal of becoming a lawyer. Randy’s mom and I spent our savings putting Randy through school at XX High School, seven years of college, SLU Law School. And Randy graduated from SLU University School of Law in 1998. He had his license to practice in Missouri, Illinois, New York, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Tennessee and Oregon. Randy was a frequent speaker at the Asbestos Litigation. Randy was a true leader, a wonderful attorney and a friend and a companion to our community. He gave so much to everyone he knew personally and professionally. Randy held the profession of law in high regards for those who work for him at the highest of standards. Randy was steadfast in his efforts to fight for the suffering of the mesothelioma victims and the injured by the hands of other victims. He is an esteemed member of the legal community, offering his insight and experience to those who walk alongside him in seeking justice. Randy’s dreams of home were taken away from him by a monster on January 4, 2020, by a sadistic killer named Timothy Banowetz. Banowetz was determined to extinguish Randy’s life in order to become rich off a hideous plan of murder and theft in my son’s home in Edwardsville, Illinois. Randy loved his children and his family. Randy was executed of his life because of his murder by this vicious devil. Randy will now miss all his future birthdays, graduations, holidays, weddings, grandchildren and future celebrations. Randy’s mother who loved him so dearly has been in deep depression and is under constant watch because of Banowetz’s execution. Judy has been in the hospital for the last two years for dehydration, loss of appetite, falls, broken hips, blood disorder and unable to sleep and mental stability. Our grandchildren are under medical treatment, afraid to even drive up our street or come in our neighborhood. What kind of demon from hell was Banowetz? He offers no remorse for his destruction of human life. … Our son would have given Tim anything he wanted to spare him and his kids’ life. However, Tim chose to brutally murder Randy. Tim should be offered no leniency for his sicko choices. How do you describe how much our son means to us and to his members of family. How do you clear the lump in your chest, in your throat, when you talk about the loss of our son? How do you try to sleep at night with the loss of our son? How do you explain the pain Banowetz has inflicted on our family? The only way to keep this demon incarcerated is to incarcerate him for life, deny him any contact with loved ones. Put him in a dark room and let him rot.”