La Grange, IL: 6-year fugitive nabbed in slaying of ex-boyfriend in La Grange

After nationwide search, woman is arrested without incident Friday in Palos Hills

By Art Barnum, Tribune Reporter

7:32 PM CDT, July 16, 2010

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A former La Grange woman who this week was named to the Chicago Crime Commission's Top 10 Most Wanted List was arrested Friday in Palos Hills after being on the lam for more than six years while charged with the murder of her former boyfriend.

A tip from a person who had learned of Sherry Halligan's case from recent news media accounts led the FBI and La Grange police to an apartment in the southwest suburb, where Halligan gave up without a struggle, authorities said. Police did not disclose the address of the apartment.

Halligan, 51, is charged with the murder of Dennis Campbell, who was found fatally shot in her home in the 1000 block of South 6th Street in La Grange. Cook County prosecutors alleged that during a domestic quarrel on Jan. 30, 2003, Halligan hit Campbell in the chest and then pulled a gun out of a drawer and shot him five times.

After being arrested and released on $50,000 cash bond, Halligan failed to show up for a court appearance in April 2004. A warrant was issued for her arrest.

Her car was found at Midway Airport, and she was sought nationwide, with accounts of the crime featured on the television show "America's Most Wanted."

In the end, she was captured a few miles from where the 2003 killing took place. Authorities said Halligan had confessed to killing Campbell after turning herself in to La Grange police in 2003. She allegedly had placed her bloody clothes and gun into a plastic bag and dumped them along Interstate 55.

Halligan was being held at the La Grange police station and was to appear in Bond Court in Bridgeview on Saturday. She was charged with murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Chicago and Cook County police assisted in the investigation.

Arthur Bilek, executive vice president of the Chicago Crime Commission, said that Halligan was the only suburban person to make the commission's top 10 list.