miles and has a rate of 99 crimes per sq. Among the worst towns in Illinois, this town of just about 26,000 people sees around 23 murders each year. Rockford is the most populous city to make this list and the 4th biggest in Illinois. Share your thoughts with us! Chicago has the fitting nickname of the City of the Big Shoulders. That describes everything about this larger-than-life town, from the iconic Lake Shore Drive to the Magnificent Mile. However, its essential to remember that these statistics dont represent the entire country. mile in Mount Vernon, and most of them are property crimes. mile in Cahokia, IL. Shelia Eddy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years. With that said, the 1 in 79 chance of violent crime means there is plenty to fear in Centralia. He died of his injuries six days later. The property crime rate in the Prairie State ranks 38th highest in the United States -- 20.37% better than US average property crime rate. miles. AN ELITE CAFEMEDIA LIFESTYLE PUBLISHER. The property crime rate in the ranks 316th highest in the United States -- 72.98% better than US average property crime rate. It is only the sixth most populous city in the state yet it sees nearly 10 murders per 100,000 people each year as well as more than 1,000 acts of violent crime per 100,000 people. The proximity to Chi-Town has significantly impacted it, both good and bad. WebStats show that there were a total reported 7,183 crimes in 2020 which included murder, rape, burglary, grand theft auto, and other property crimes. So what criteria did we use? WebThe most infamous Illinois murders which have been solved or have seen resolution include the following: the murders of John Wayne Gacy, H.H. The primary tourist attraction is its connection with Abraham Lincoln, which is well-celebrated in the community. Danville has another claim to fame, though. Caterpillar and ADM have a strong influence on the citys economy. Between the ages of 13 and 15, Craig Price killed four female victims. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'roadsnacks_net-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',606,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-roadsnacks_net-medrectangle-3-0');The Illinois cities on our most dangerous list could definitely use some TLC. Your chances of becoming a victim of crime can range from 1 in 17 in northwest neighborhoods to 1 in 70 in northeast neighborhoods. Convicted in 1999 for the murder of his ex girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, Syed had listeners obsessed with the case and debating his guilt. I cant imagine the anger Kimberlys family must have. When he was arrested, Kokoraleis told police the group would take women back to Gechts house, a satanic chapel, as he called it, where they raped and tortured them. This nurse has one of the highest body counts in state history, with more than 30 confirmed and possibly hundreds more. miles of space. Figures for violent and non-violent crime far exceed the state averages. Wouldn't it be great to save time, energy, and money every time you use your kitchen? Illinois holds many dangerous cities, despite being the land of Lincoln. Joseph Miller was convicted of killing two prostitutes in the Chicago area in 1978. Henley and the other accomplice, David Owen Brooks, are currently serving life sentences. Years ago, it was branded the most dangerous city in the U.S. Today, it is still dangerous, and 41 out of 1,000 residents have a crime committed against them. He If you've seen the movie "Rope," you're familiar with this crime. RoadSnacks is reader-supported. Even though Champaign is located far from Chicago, it still is very much an urban area. With a population of just about 14,000, it's incredible that burglary, property crime, and larceny also have exceptionally high rates in this town. That may help explain the 4,848 known property offenses committed in 2019. Just play it smart and stay alert to be safe. The pandemic, so often blamed for the crime surge, isnt the only factor. And if you don't see your city there, head to the bottom. Of course, there is also one of the best crime deterrents arounda barking dog. The violent crime rate in illinois ranks 18th highest in the United States -- 9.83% worse than US average violent crime rate. O'Connor killed a police officer and was scheduled to be executed when he escaped. Read more about the story here. Weve even seen smart alarms with a barking dog motion detector. Your chances of becoming a victim of crime might range from 1 in 10 in the west to 1 in 54 in the northeast. In 1983, Gecht was sentenced to 120 years in prison. The object is to make it as difficult to break into your home as possible. While most rates are declining, homicides tripled between 2018 and 2019. mile. Property crime also isn't so great in Mount Vernon, which has the fifth highest rate of burglaries in Illinois. The poverty rate in Illinois throughout the entire state is 12.1%. AP Images Dubbed the "Serial Killer Clown," Gacy killed 33 boys and young men in the '70s. Violent crime is rampant in Illinois, and the state ranked #4 for most murders in 2018. Between the poverty and high volume of property crimes, Wood River is a dangerous city to live in. With over 1,050 reports of theft so far, stolen property is the biggest concern for Danville residents. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Chicago might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are. The city is a cultural mecca on several fronts, from literature to the performing arts. Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He had been involved in organized crime for many years and is presumed dead. Assaults, burglaries, and thefts are significant problems. WebIn 2014, Nicholas Sheley, a Sterling native, was found guilty of murdering four people in a two-day killing spree in Illinois and Missouri. New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, Source: Carl Koppelman, Wikimedia Commons, Source: Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution. As with Rockford, the figures for most major crimes exceed the states average. He was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography, but the judge made it clear the trial was really about Jacob. Other areas you should avoid include Cahokia, Metropolis, and Peoria. {"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question", "name": "Is Illinois a dangerous state? It's the home of Royal Donut, which serves up some of the, The largest city in central Illinois and our capital, of course, is not free of crime. John Wayne Gacy. Gacy had a reputation as a small construction business owner and as Pogo the Clown, as whom he would perform at hospitals and neighborhood parties. A Beware of Dog sign can suffice. While Mount Vernon takes the cake for most dangerous city statewide overall, there's nowhere more violent in Illinois than Danville. Avoid Illinois cities that have violent crime rates, such as Rockford or Danville. His nickname comes from his profession as a baker. Find out about a city before walking the streets alone. This Montana serial killer murdered three children and one 19-year-old woman between 1967 and 1974 in Gallatin County, MT. The bombing killed four people three 14-year-old girls and one 11-year-old girl and injured more than 20 others. Perhaps we'll never have answers as to what happened to this 6-year-old pageant princess though plenty of people obsessed with the case are convinced they've solved it but the strange circumstances around the death of JonBenet have made it one of the most talked about child murders in history. Population: 14,670Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 2)Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,165 (Fourth most dangerous)Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,124 (13th most dangerous)More on Mount Vernon: |Cost Of Living|Crime Report. However, the high-profile trial and endless documentary specials and movies of the week pushed this technically unsolved crime to the top of the list. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement. He was acquitted, and no one else was tried afterward. Ransom money paid to the perpetrator led police to Bruno Hauptmann, whose trial was dubbed the Trial of the Century by newspapers. Her brother, unfortunately, was found murdered days later. Lawson then went into the woods and shot himself. All rights reserved. Not surprisingly, Galena has been named one of the coolest small towns in the U.S. Mount Vernon is home to some beautiful views at the cost of living in a dangerous environment. Peoria. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Illinois Schools In The Early 1900s May Shock You. That doesn't mean it doesn't have plenty to offer, though. It's a good thing it sits so close to the river. Henry Howard Holmes is one of Americas best-known criminals and the subject of the book The Devil in the White City, soon to be adapted into a Netflix movie. All five victims were bound, raped, and strangled. Our friends at RoadSnacks have compiled the statistics (which are from 2018), and weve worked with them to bring you the most important info about our state, ultimately uncovering the most dangerous towns in Illinois. WebName: Date: Victims: Location : A: Charles ALBANESE 1980 - 1981: 3: Illinois, USA : Dale R. ANDERSON 1978 - 1988: 2 - 7 + Yet, it may never shed its gangster history culminated with the rise and fall of Al Capone and his band of outlaws. It got its start as a manufacturing town that became the main economic driver. It has a rich cultural history that includes spots in major Hollywood films, such as the quintessential guys movie The Blues Brothers. Joliet uses its proximity to water with its two riverboat casinos, Harrahs and the Hollywood Casino. Of the total crime tally, there were 551 violent crimes and 4,427 property crimes reported per capita. The latter topped 2,014 in 2019. Thank you! However, residents report 183 assaults annual assaults, so it is a dangerous place to live. Peoria is known for having one of the most scenic roads in the country, Grand View Drive, but with 430 car thefts occurring in 2020, we wonder how many people that got to experience it in 2020 were driving cars they actually owned. Police believe he was a serial killer who would have taken more victims had he not been captured. In fact, it's one of the top, This town of 12,000 people may not see many murders but violent crime is still three times the state average and nearly four times the national average. High crime rates aren't all you'll find in Centralia, though. According to FBI records, there were 1,020 violent crimes and 1,579 property crimes. In all, he is said to have killed at least 27 people. ", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

This part of Illinois is well-suited for agriculture, with nutrient-rich prairie soils and a flat landscape. We aim to deliver infotainment about where you live that your real estate agent won't tell you. Joliet is a true river town, with the DuPage and Des Plaines Rivers flanking the city. He killed at least 33 young boys and men ranging in age from 15 to 21 and buried their bodies in the basement and crawl space of his home. On Christmas in 1929, tobacco farmer Charlie Lawson murdered his wife and six of his seven children. When it comes to violent and property crimes, these cities rank highest per capita consistently, with between 163 222% higher crime occurrences than all of the other cities in Illinois. Nebraska's natural born killer Charles Starkweather was 18 when he met his girlfriend, 14-year-old Caril Ann Fugate. A third potential victim, Amy Anderson, escaped before she could meet a similar fate. This is Cahokia's first time on the top ten most dangerous in Illinois list, so if it can get its property crime rate down to its violent crime levels, the village should have no problem getting back off this list next year. He became known as the longest incarcerated person in Illinois at the time of his death from diabetes at the Dixon Correctional Center in 2012, having been locked up for 65 years. However, you truly don't get much eviler or more sensational than Killer Clown John Wayne Gacy. Caution is necessary for Mount Vernon, as 1 in 19 residents are victims of property crime. These crimes included everything from murder and rape to property-based incidents. After all, the United States still strives to be A Shining City Upon a Hill.. The 2015 U.S. population total was 320.9 million. Most of the shootings happened in Queens and The Bronx, all with a .44 caliber revolver. Technically speaking, property crime is the biggest concern in Centralia, IL. Its worth noting that this town is home to two correctional facilities, the Illinois Youth Center Joliet and the Joliet State Prison. Though authorities doubt he survived the risky jump, DB Cooper has been a source of endless intrigue and speculation ever since, with a long string a possible suspects. Fascinated by all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market. Two days later, Elizabeth and her older sister, 44-year-old Ida Harriet Deane, died from arsenic poisoning. Then, when the heat turned up, she killed her three children and staged her death by decapitating an unidentified female victim. But while farms make up much of the surrounding landscape, Decatur suffers from a taste of the Chicago-style crime. What other locales do you think are among the worst towns in Illinois? Gone are the days that parents can let their children run wild until the street lights come on. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city. Peorias tarnished reputation goes back to the days before Al Capone discovered it. Sadly, if you live in Danville, you have to worry about the 1 in 20 chance of property crime. He killed eight employees and injured 12 others before taking his own life. According to FBI records, there were 1,446 violent crimes and 4,939 property crimes. This small town may not see much murder or violent crime but the rate of property crime and personal theft is a real problem if you plan on moving here. However, property crime is the biggest problem in IL for the most part. The four others who ate the poisoned candies lived. 1 in 65 of them are victim of violent crime. The cost of living in Wood River is low and averages $656 a month. Robbery and assault are the main violent crime. The murder weapon was found beside a 4-pound slab of bacon. Fourteen-year-old Konerak Sinthasomphone managed to escape and three women tried to help him, but Dahmer convinced police they were romantically involved and that they had a minor domestic dispute. Tags: United States, crime, Illinois Coronavirus Bulletin Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. It has the smallest population of any we considered. Chicago is a large city spread out over 234 sq. The case wasn't reopened until the 1970s, with the first conviction occurring in 1977. However, the hit podcast Serial made Adnan Syed a household name. Hoopeston The 15th most dangerous place to live in Illinois is Hoopeston, Source: Arizona Department of Corrections, Orange Couty Dept of Corrections, Florida Dept of Corrections, Source: Arizona Department of Corrections, Source: FBI, United States Marshals Service, Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Thats another reason why its imperative to view each city individually and not make assumptions about either crime or safety. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Maybe. We make our next stop in consideration of Illinois's most dangerous locales in the town of Cahokia, a village located just south of St. Louis. Follow this guide and explore the most dangerous cities in Illinois and what is responsible for their ranking. Theft and burglary are the biggest and most common crimes reported in Cahokia, IL. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.

Population: 144,795Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 7)Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,451 (Second most dangerous)Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,834 (Most dangerous)More on Rockford: |Cost Of Living|Crime Report. Theft, in general, is also high in this town, and both aggravated assault and violent crime still fly above the state and national averages. This is among a city with a population of 6,366. The common violent crimes in Centralia include rape, robbery, and assault. Auto theft is also high, with 265 cases reported in 2019. This podcast should not exist. But the Golden State Killer wins for the nature of his crimes and for how long he successfully evaded capture. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Chicago ranks 39th highest in America -- 79.79% worse than US average violent crime rate. 2. In 2020, there were a total of 5,318 reported crimes. The real killers have never been caught. These included both violent and property crimes. Out of every 1,000 people in Centralia, IL, roughly 8 of them risk being assaulted. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Chicago might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are. Illinois isnt the safest state in the country, but neither is it the worse. There were 889 violent crimes and 5,080 property crimes reported per capita out of this total. That same year, he killed Frances Brown in her apartment, leaving a note written in lipstick that read For heavens Sake catch me Before I kill more I cannot control myself.. No explanation ever surfaced for the sudden familicide. Theft is rampant in several pockets of this small town. Dangerous towns in Illinois are the exception, not the norm. On a positive note, there are people out there coming together to combat the problems that these Illinois' cities are facing. Born Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth, Belle Gunness was a black widow who would post ads wooing men from Indiana and Illinois, whom she would murder by poisoning, bludgeoning and in a few cases arson, collecting on the insurance money or on whatever cash assets she had convinced them to bring along from their hometowns. In 2015, there were 299 violent crimes in Harvey with 5 murders, 23 cases of rape, 149 robberies and 122 aggravated assaults. Theft is far and away from the most common property crime in IL, with 187,591 thefts reported annually. He was expelled from South Beloit High School and spent several years in jail in the 1970s for gas station armed robberies. They run the gamut, from poverty rate to population density to even innocuous things like climate. It is the third largest city in Illinois and sees more than three times as much violent crime as the rest of the state, twice as many murders, When it comes to aggravated assault, the city's rate is nearly five times higher than the state and national average. Many Rockford residents fear having their cars stolen. Speck died of a heart attack in prison in 1991. That is because there have been 450 car thefts thus far in 2020, and so are signs of slowing down. These included both violent and property crimes. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks. Since Kankakee measures 15.51 sq. Nobody anticipated that Springfield would be such a dangerous city when it was made the capital of Illinois. 0 Comments If you're looking to be that diamond in the rough, or you're just curious to see if your city made the list, take a look at our list below. WebNew Hampshire's most notorious crime is an unsolved serial murder case involving four female victims killed between 1977 and 1985. Unemployment is also an issue in Springfield, and the 5.5% rate is higher than the 4.7% national unemployment rate. It was later determined their neighbor, Henry Layer, killed the family, all in a dispute over an attack by their family dog on Layer's cow. This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. A high poverty rate and lower household income likely play a role. Its represented on all major sports fronts. Authorities arrested an escaped convict, Gene Leroy Hart, but he was acquitted. After attending a boxing match at the MGM Grand on September 7, 1996, Tupac was gunned down while riding in a white Cadillac with Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight. Yet another family annihilation with one survivor. Holmes construction coincided with the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair, which brought him plenty of unsuspecting victims, mostly young women, whom he would torture to death in various horrible ways. There have been 51,490 violent crimes and 246,646 property crimes in Illinois this year. However, each sq. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. More than twice, Birmingham has the highest rate of gun Andre Crawford was convicted of killing 11 women, all prostitutes and drug addicts, in Chicagos Englewood neighborhood between 1993 and 1999. Hart died in prison in 1979, where he was serving a sentence for unrelated kidnapping and rape charges. In 1945, Heirens broke into the apartment of Josaphine Ross, 43, and murdered her. Web10 Most Dangerous Cities in Illinois Danville Peoria Springfield Rockford Champaign Chicago Granite City East St. Louis Joliet Bloomington 1. Its the states fourth largest city, located about 89 northwest of Chicago. Still, local sheriffs are convinced they had the right man. However, Williams was never tried and convicted of any child murders, but rather in the deaths of two adult men. Castro died by suicide in prison September 3, 2013, one month after he was sentenced to life. Did you know these were the worst cities in Illinois as far as crime is concerned? WebBased on FBI statistics, Mount Vernon, Danville, Centralia, Wood River, and Springfield are the most dangerous cities in Illinois. New Hampshire's most notorious crime is an unsolved serial murder case involving four female victims killed between 1977 and 1985. Cultural attractions abound, with museums, art galleries, and theaters. It has brought opportunities and funding as well as crime. Bloomington residents often believe the citys northeast section to be the safest. He soon purchased an empty lot across the street and began construction of what would later become known as the Murder Castle, a hotel constructed by numerous, independent contractors which would contain secret rooms, odd-angled hallways, stairways to nowhere, a slide from an upper level to the basement, where he also installed a large fired kiln. Talk about marriages not working out. According to FBI statistics, the Tucson area had a total of 5,136 reported crimes in the calendar year 2020. [1] Chicago ranks as the based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Though he received an offer to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment in exchange for his confession, Hauptmann went to the chair professing his innocence. You may have been surprised to see that Chicago didnt make the list of the most dangerous towns in Illinois. It wasn't until DNA technology was advanced enough that California investigators discovered the same serial rapist who terrorized Northern California in the '70s had moved south and escalated to murder, taking the lives of at least 13. As with most situations, there's bound to be problems with that many people. We used data and science to identify the most dangerous cities in the Prairie State for 2022. if(window.innerWidth<700){ezoicSiteSpeed(jQuery(document),String(/documentReady/).substring(1).slice(0,-1),String(/jQuery-document-dot-ready/).substring(1).slice(0,-1),function($){$("#skip_expand").html("(Expand+)");$("#toc ul").css("display","none");$("#skip_expand").on("click",function(){$("#toc ul").toggle()});$("#toc h3").on("click",function(){$("#toc ul").toggle()});});}. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. He would often target heterosexual couples, subduing and restraining the men while assaulting their wives or girlfriends. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. You're not even safe at home in Centralia, seeing as the city also has the second highest rate of burglaries in Illinois. Homicides doubled from 2018 to 2019. In 2014, Nicholas Sheley, a Sterling native, was foundguilty of murdering four people in a two-day killing spree in Illinois and Missouri. Illinois is by no means a small state and covers 57,915 sq. This is among a city with a population of 40,689. Turns out, people from the Windy City arent that bad. He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move. She enlisted her hired hand, Ray Lamphere, with setting fire to the farm to obscure the identity of her remains. Cordelia Botkin is not only the most notorious killer in Delaware history but the first to commit murder by mail. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Police arrest suspect in Rochelle arson, murder of, Rockford residents speak out after car is stolen. Locking your doors and windows is another smart option. She killed anywhere from 25 to 40 victims and was never caught. When it comes to theft, property crime, and aggravated assault, you're likely to find a lot of that taking place in various pockets of this southern Illinois town. Overall, residents of Rockford face a 1 in 68 chance of being the victim of a violent crime each year. 6. John Wayne Gacy, often called the "Killer Clown," was one of the worst serial killers in U.S. history, murdering at least 33 young male victims. Sole survivor Arthur died in a car accident 16 years later at age 32. Violent crime is over three times higher in Rockford than in the rest of Illinois. Rhoades is thought to have tortured and killed more than 50 women. In 1994, fellow inmate Christopher Scarver beat Dahmer to death in a prison bathroom. There were 774 homicides in 2020, which was over a 50-percent increase from the previous year. He then killed 65-year-old Ronald Randall at a car wash in Galesburg on June 28th. Its other alleged claim to fame is the birthplace of the state-fair staple, the corndog. In 2020 there were a total of 6,559 reported crimes. WebCommunity Corner Illinois Cops Best Paid, But Worst At Solving Murders: Study Illinois ranked third overall nationally as the best place to be a police officer, but the state's cops When you click through real estate links on our site, we earn an affiliate commission. One of those accomplices, Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr., shot Corll to death in the midst of the torture of two victims, Tim Kerley and Rhonda Williams. He killed 11 total. WebThe population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau. Sheley killed 8 people with a hammer during one fateful week in 2008. (AKA Dan) Cooper. These included everything from murder and rape to car theft and burglary. There were 1,965 violent The women were subjected to a decade of unspeakable abuse and rape. All Rights Reserved. Remember that knowledge is your friend. For example, Edison Park is the safest in Chicago, while West Garfield Park is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'roadsnacks_net-leader-3','ezslot_16',705,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-roadsnacks_net-leader-3-0');Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Chicago ranks 39th highest in America -- 79.79% worse than US average violent crime rate. While violence is reasonably under wraps, high burglary rates contribute to making this the number 9 most dangerous spot in Illinois.