Villain Elizabeth Liz Tolbert seeks clemency; makes startling

revelation in her petition

By Steve Pope
Perhaps Hardin County's most infamous villain Elizabeth (Liz) Tolbert for
at least the eighth time since her original conviction in 1996 for the shooting-
death of Wilson D. Junior Tolbert is seeking an early release from prison, this
time by asking Governor Pat Quinn to commute her sentence to time already
served.
She is currently serving a 60-year sentence, but based on then-existing
Illinois law she will efectively serve just six-months shy of 30-years and is
currently scheduled to be released in Dec. 2025. For approximately the last
nine years, Tolbert has been incarcerated at the medium-security Lincoln
Correctional Center, just south of Springfeld.
In an emotionally-based 102-page clemency petition fled with the Illinois
Prisoner Review Board on July 2, obtained by a Freedom of Information Act
request; the convicted murderer is claiming she deserves clemency for among
other reasons, she should be released immediately because she is no longer a
threat to society, and that life expectancy for an inmate is age 63. As of now I
would be 64 upon my release, Tolbert wrote in her petition.
The now 52-year-old woman also claimed that her body deteriorates
from lack of proper food and nutrients. Tolbert said we don't get fresh fruit and
fresh vegetables like we would out there or real meat. In support of her claim
that keeping her incarcerated is a fnancial burden on the State, Tolbert added
It will continue to cost the (State) money to keep me here. A nurse told me
that one of the shots I was on before my surgery (a hysterectomy) cost $3000.
In all, she listed fve reasons Governor Quinn should allow her back among the
law-abiding citizens of Illinois.
Tolbert then 34 at the time of Junior's murder was convicted along with
her brother James Sanford in the heinous and cold-blooded, execution-style
shooting of Junior at the entrance to his farm in Hardin County. A third-party,
Chris Olvedia-Reed pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and served
several years in prison.
James Sanford accuses member of a prominent Hardin County family as
Junior's killer
Central to Tolbert's Jan. 1998 conviction was the testimony of several
witnesses, including Olvedia-Reed; who testifed that Tolbert and Sanford had a
hushed conversation, at the side of the road moments after Tolbert told
Sanford that Junior had just named him as the person who shot him earlier
that day. At least according to Olvedia-Reed, Sanford and Tolbert drove back to
the couple's farm where Junior lay paralyzed. It is at this point where the
parties' tell completely opposite versions of events that took place the afternoon
of May 24, 1995.
According to Tolbert, she followed Sanford and Olvedia-Reed back to the
farm in her Blazer with her two sons in the back seat. Olvedia-Reed claims she
was the one following Tolbert and Sanford. While Sanford admitted at Tolbert's
trial to fring the fatal shot, after claiming numerous times he didn't Sanford
has since changed his story to the author during a visit in early 2010 at the
Menard Correctional Center.
When asked if he actually fred the, point-blank shot into Junior's head,
he looked down and in almost a hushed-tone said I shot him the frst time, I
admit that, but I didn't kill him. After being asked several times - the author
said, James - it's important to fnally get to the truth. You are doing life and
nothing will change that. Do you know who killed Junior? Was it your sister?
Looking down at the table and hesitating for a few moments he softly said, No
sis didn't kill him - Chrissy did. We left; Chrissy took me to the place where she
hid the gun under the rock, we went back to her house, took a shower and
burned our clothes. When Sanford looked up one could see at least some
remorse in his somber-looking eyes.
Indeed, it is undisputed that Olvedia-Reed is the only one of the three
potential killers that led authorities to the .25 caliber pistol used to kill Junior,
which was hidden in a glove under a rock, in a rural pond. Sanford led
investigators to the site he buried the .22 caliber pistol he used to shoot Junior
in the back earlier that day - which left him paralyzed according to the autopsy
and medical testimony during Tolbert's trial.
After 18 years, Tolbert shows no remorse over Junior's death
Since her arrest in July, 1995 Tolbert has steadfastly maintained her
innocence saying she didn't kill Junior and never conspired or planned his
death with anyone. In fact, Tolbert has gone a step further: During the over 60
meetings she had with the author at Lincoln, Tolbert never expressed any
remorse over Junior's death. She has said numerous times that she was
absolutely sure she was going to prevail in her post-conviction claims and
subsequent appeals, and that she is sorry she is in prison and shouldn't be
there.
I never believed I would have to be doing this clemency, I believed I
would win from the courts, that dream is long gone, Tolbert says in her
petition.
However, she never expressed any remorse for her involvement in
Junior's death. Just the opposite, she maintains she was not involved at all.
Several former inmates who were friends with Tolbert all say they never saw her
show any remorse that Junior was dead or the way he was killed. In-fact, the
former drug-dealer from California said in a Letter to the Editor to the
Independent, days after Junior's murder that she had done nothing to feel
guilty about.
In a jail-house letter written to Sanford shortly after their arrest, she
urges Sanford to take responsibility for Junior's death and promised him she
would get him a lawyer and show what a dick Junior was.
The lack of remorse and taking responsibility for her actions on May 24,
1995 are clearly evident by Tolbert's statements she made both at her
sentencing and in her clemency petition. During her sentencing, Tolbert told
the court she was guilty of only negligence, in telling her brother that Junior
had just told her he shot him.
Tolbert told the Prisoner Review Board in her petition, I do know my
action of stopping and asking James if he killed my husband, makes me
responsible for his actions. The stupidest thing I've ever done! WAIT!!, Tolbert
has maintained for the past 18-years that when she left Junior after fnding
him, he was shot, but alive - laying by the side of his truck. She has never
wavered from her claim she told James that Junior said James shot me.
Now, in a shocking new revelation Tolbert tells the Board that she
stopped and asked James if he killed Junior! She doesn't say she asked James
if he shot, wounded or even injured him; she asks if he killed him. Why
would she ask her brother if he killed Junior, when Junior was supposed to be
alive when she left him. She also writes in her petition, I am ashamed that
my actions took my husband's life, but not ashamed to go out and tell anyone
and everyone why I was locked up...
This shocking admission - that she asked her brother if he killed
Junior is quite signifcant in light of her father's testimony during Sanford's
trial. Ray Sanford told jurors that while the two were driving to Paducah, Ky,
weeks before Juniors murder that Tolbert said, She told me that if Junior cut
the money out from under her she would kill him. When called to testify
during Tolbert's trial he had what can only be labeled as a convenient memory
lapse, saying he did not remember his previous testimony.
In her petition, Tolbert gave a lengthy and somewhat rambling personal
life history where she admits that she did not care about how my actions
efected and hurt other people. She adds that she was cursed to be
physically developed at such an early age, and says that in 1995 I know I was
full of myself back then.... The convicted murderer also made similar
ridiculous claims on several syndicated television shows such as Sally Jessy
Raphael and to the author, that every woman in Harding County was jealous
of my good looks and the way I dressed.
Tolbert's gives the Board fve reasons for granting her clemency
Tolbert told the Board that upon her release she will live with a friend in
the Chicago area that she met in prison. The woman, Dawn DeGuide who
served several years for killing a person while driving drunk, has promised her
a job helping with daily chores.
For her frst reason Tolbert told the Board, she will never commit
another crime or be put in a position to lie or cover for someone else. She also
claims that she will not abuse drugs, even over-the-counter drugs. She adds
...I will never come back to prison because I am not the same person that got
locked up in 1995.
She listed for her second reason is that she won't be a threat or burden
to society, it will save the state a lot of money to release this elderly inmate.
She also said her health is not improving, but declining. But yet, maintains she
is currently quite healthy. She adds that by releasing her she will be able to
.help people not return to prison or ever come here.
Claiming that the recidivism rate among long-timers is 2%, Tolbert said
her third reason she claims she is deserving of clemency are her
accomplishments in prison. Telling the Board, there is no excuse why I came
to prison, only that I made a horrible call in my life, and realize that my actions
led to the reactions that took my husband's life, and ruined everyone else's
around me including my brothers.
She then tells the Board that because of her prison-related church and
volunteer activities, and also because her convicted-felon friend is willing to
give her a job she should be released.
Included in her fourth reason for seeking clemency, the devious woman
claimed she was in-efect given a life sentence because of her claim that the life
expectancy of a female inmate is 63 years. She also tells the Board that the
penalty she received is to severe because she will not be able to be a useful
citizen and get a job if she were to serve her entire sentence. She continues by
asking the Board to choose places where she can talk to the younger
generation that would help open the door for me to get invited into other
schools and places.
Tolbert for her ffth reason wrote, I ask not only to be released for myself
but for those I can be helping. She promises the Board she will not be a
burden to society or to anyone else. She repeats her earlier grandiose promises
to help practically everyone in the State not to make the same mistakes she
did, from the young school-age children to those in nursing homes. She ends
by telling the Board If someone would only take a chance on me.
From reviewing her petition, it appears the villain has not been able to
garner much, if any credible support for her release in the past 18-years.
Without exception, every letter she attaches to her petition are from convicted
felons - some convicted of murder. She also includes a signed petition that
doesn't include phone numbers. Suspiciously, all the signers are from Ohio a
state Tolbert has never been to.
Tolbert told the Board that her long-time friend Dawn DeGuide and her
husband John would provide testimony at her hearing last October. When
contacted and asked if he and his wife actually appeared at the hearing
DeGuide said I don't recall. Tolbert told the author several times, that upon
her release, Dawn promised her $100,000. During an interview when asked
about this claim her husband John said that's news to me. I don't know
anything about that and neither does Dawn.
No release is expected in the near future for convicted murderer
This is Tolbert's frst bid at seeking clemency. She had a hearing before
the Board in October, which she was not permitted to attend. They will make a
confdential recommendation to the Governor to approve or deny her request.
If denied, Tolbert is not allowed to fle another petition for one year.
According to Board representative Chuck Eguez, Governor Quinn is reviewing
requests fled in 2008. The earliest a decision should be expected on her
petition is mid-2017, according to Eguez. Therefore, a favorable decision on
Tolberts petition, although unlikely, won't be coming for at least four years.
So for now, and most likely until 2025, the citizens of Hardin County and
elsewhere, can rest easy knowing that the elderly inmate will continue to eat
a diet devoid of meat, fresh fruits and vegetables and, continue to deteriorate
at Lincoln.