WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderFreeport siblings fight clemency for father's killer

Freeport siblings fight clemency for father's killer

By Marissa Alter

FREEPORT (WREX) - Two Freeport siblings are forced to relive the pain of their father's murder as they fight to keep one of his killers behind bars.

In November 1992, Bob Peters was killed during the robbery of his Freeport gunshop.Three men were convicted of the crime. William Keene, Anthony Ehlers, and Michael Hoover are all serving life sentences without parole. But Hoover was recently granted a hearing for executive clemency.

"Your first question is always, how? How did he get it after 16 and a half years? What did he pull out of his hat that made such a difference that someone actually read his petition and granted it?" wonders Peters' daughter, Becky Peters-Jahnke. "But that notwithstanding, there's a hearing to be done, so your next thought is 'what do we do now?' This doesn't come with an instruction manual."

So Becky and her brother Bob Jr. dug in. They placed petitions all around town. Letters of support poured in to their homes and the Illinois Prisoner Review Board from community members, law enforcement, and legislators.

"I spend my days off right now circulating petitions and getting signatures. And when you think you can't get out of the car and do it anymore, you think of all the people who are here behind you," Becky says.

In Michael Hoover's clemency petition, he blames his criminal past on a troubled childhood. But Hoover claims he's changed. He's earned his GED and found religion behind bars

"It was the intent of the court that he never ever be let out of prison," states Bob Jr. "Michael Hoover, Anthony Ehlers, and William Keene chose to take our father's life. So they chose their fate."

And that's the point Bob, Becky, and the rest of their family will make when they go down to Springfield next month and speak out against Hoover's release.

"We feel that whatever recommendation they make to the governor will be in our favor 100%. We're not going to leave them any room for consideration of his petition," Bob says.

"We have to walk in there knowing we've done everything, brought everything, contacted everyone, done everything we could," adds Becky. "I think at the end of the day, that's what you have to do. It's not fun. It's not easy. It's definitely not 16 and a half years ago where we planned on our lives being at this point, but it's what you have to do."

Hoover's hearing is July 8. The governor has 90 days to make a decision on whether to grant clemency.

If you have an opinion on this case, you can send a letter to:

Illinois Prisoner Review Board              

319 East Madison St., Suite A

Springfield, IL 62701

Re: Michael D. Hoover, Prisoner #B60206, Case # 93 CF 135

Postmarked by: July 1st