SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A suburban serial killer recently had his parole denied by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
Mark Smith, 75, of McHenry County, was denied parole last Thursday.
Smith was convicted of the rapes and murders of two local women and a 17-year-old girl during the first six months of 1970 — Jean Bianchi, 27, Janice Bolyard, 22, and Jean Lingenfelter, 17.
He was also convicted in Arkansas for the 1969 rape and murder of Obie Fay Ash.
Smith also admitted to the murders of several young women while stationed in West Germany, but was never prosecuted.
He was sentenced to 500 years for the three local murders. Since he was convicted prior to 1978, Smith is considered for parole every three years.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office petitioned a judge to have parole hearings every five years instead of three, which was granted.