Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Accused Serial Rapist's Texts, But Not Photos, To Be Shown To Prosecutors

By Erica Demarest | June 7, 2017 6:29pm | Updated on June 7, 2017 7:58pm
 Marc Winner, 46, is charged in four separate rape cases.
Marc Winner, 46, is charged in four separate rape cases.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo; Chicago Police Department

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Prosecutors won't be able to access Marc Winner's cellphone photos as they build a case against the accused serial rapist, a Cook County judge ruled Wednesday.

Winner, 46, is charged with raping four women in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2015. Three of the alleged victims were customers or employees at Winner's now-defunct tanning salon, which was shut down by the city last year.

Judge Carol M. Howard on Wednesday denied the state's request to access Winner's cellphone photos, which prosecutors believe might include old incriminating images.

The state previously told Howard that a friend of Winner's informed authorities last year that he'd seen incriminating photos of women on Winner's phone in 2012. Howard on Wednesday said the man's four-year-old memory wasn't "reliable enough" to allow the state access to the pictures.

"It's not clear if it's the same phone," Howard said.

The prosecution's pursuit of the images "seems more akin to a fishing expedition than anything else," the judge said.

Assistant State's Attorney Mikki Miller was granted permission, however, to look at Winner's stored text messages — which authorities believe contain text conversations between Winner and one of his alleged victims from Aug. 21-23, 2015.

Winner's cellphone was seized Sep. 30, 2015, during Winner's initial arrest for the pending cases, according to court testimony.

A forensic expert is expected in coming weeks to unlock the phone and secure any saved text messages for the prosecution.

Winner will next appear in court July 5.

Howard last month ruled that evidence in four uncharged sexual attacks can be used at trial against Winner, who prosecutors believe raped nine women since 2001. Five of those cases fall outside the statute of limitations for filing criminal charges.

To learn more about the case against Winner, read:

4 More Women Get Judge's OK To Testify Against Accused Serial Rapist

Judge Refuses To Dismiss Rape Charge Against West Loop Tanning Salon Owner

Accused Rapist Marc Winner's Landlord Speaks Out: 'It Was A Shock'

Marc Winner Raped Woman In His Mom's Edgewater Home, Officials Say

City Shuts Down Accused Serial Rapist Marc Winner's Tanning Salon

Accused Rapist Marc Winner Attacked in County Jail, Officials Say

Accused Serial Rapist's Tanning Salon Should Be Shut Down, Alderman Says

Tanning Salon Owner Marc Winner Raped Me in 2001 But Went Free, Woman Says

Salon Owner Charged In 3 Rape Cases Denied Bail, 'A Danger,' Judge Says

Tanning Salon Owner Allegedly Raped 2nd Woman After Judge Tossed 2013 Case