Northwestern Attorneys Seek Pardon For Steidl

Attorneys for the Center on Wrongful Convictions have sent an open letter to Gov. Pat Quinn in an attempt to push the Democrat into acting on a pardon for Gordon “Randy'' Steidl.

The letter dated Wednesday seeks action on an 11-year-old petition. The letters says, “This matter has lingered for far too long. Please do the right thing.''

It says at the least, Quinn should meet with Steidl in person to explain why he has not acted on Steidl's request while deciding thousands of other clemency petitions since taking office in 2009.

Steidl wrongfully spent 17 years in prison - a dozen on death row, for the murder a newlywed couple - Dyke and Karen Rhodes, in Paris, Ill. in 1986.   

In April of this year, a federal court signed off on a $3.5 million settlement with Steidl involving the city of Paris, two police officers, Edgar County, and a prosecutor.   

A second man, Herb Whitlock, was also set free after the Illiinois Attorney General ruled he also could not be re-tried based on a lack of evidence.

Steidl is a client of the center at Northwestern University in Evanston.