Mary Stachowicz

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Mary Stachowicz (née Frank; born 1951) was a Polish American translator, devout Catholic and mother of four, who on November 13, 2002 was murdered by her coworker Nicholas Gutierrez in Chicago, Illinois, in what has been labeled a hate crime by some conservatives.

[edit] Murder

On November 13, 2002 Stachowicz attended Mass at the Basilica of St. Hyacinth in the Chicago neighborhood of Avondale before beginning her shift as a Polish–English translator at the Sikorski Funeral Home, where Gutierrez worked as a janitor.[1] Nineteen-year-old Gutierrez tipped police off when he speculated he thought someone had killed her and stuffed her body in the building's crawlspace.[2] He was working at the funeral parlor and had recently been laid off and was being evicted.[2] Area 5 Cmdr. Lee Epplen of the Chicago Police stated that Stachowicz and Gutierrez got into an argument over his "general lifestyle" that escalated. "The argument escalated and he became more angry and punched Mrs. Stachowicz, and after she attempted to defend [herself] he became even more angry and grabbed the knife that was nearby and stabbed her," said Epplen.[2]

Stachowicz was beaten, stabbed, and ultimately strangled with a garbage bag. Gutierrez later concealed her body in a crawlspace under the floor. Prosecutors also accused Gutierrez of sexually assaulting Stachwoicz, a charge that was denied by his defense attorney.[3] In a confession videotaped by the Chicago Police, Gutierrez said he panicked because Stachowicz's trying to get him to change his sexuality reminded him of his mother. "She had this sneer, which reminded me of my mother when she used to beat me...I saw nothing but red," Gutierrez was reported saying in the Chicago Sun-Times.[4] Later his defense attorney, Crystal Marchigiani, said that it was Gutierrez who had been physically attacked by Stachowicz, and that, "She could not leave him alone."[3] Gutierrez was sentenced to life in prison on July 2, 2007.[5] His defense attorney asked the judge to account for his childhood history of physical abuse, but Stachowicz' son was convinced that Gutierrez should receive the death penalty.[5]

[edit] Aftermath

Stachowicz' murder is the focus of some attention by conservatives, who regard it an unrecognized hate crime.[6] Groups such as the Concerned Women for America have complained about the comparative lack of media attention given to the case which they believe meets the definition of a hate crime against Christians and heterosexuals.[7]

Conservative writer Rod Dreher has written about her death, arguing that it should receive the same level of media attention as the death of Matthew Shepard.[8]

Catholic Bishop Thomas Paprocki, an auxiliary bishop of Chicago who knew Stachowicz personally, called her a "martyr for the faith".[9] On the fifth anniversary of her death, Catholic journalist Phil Lawler called for the opening of a formal beatification process.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sweeney, Annie (2002-11-16), “Funeral home clerk's body likely found.”, Chicago Sun-Times: 6 
  2. ^ a b c O'Donnell, Maureen (2002-11-18), “Arrest in funeral home death.”, Chicago Sun-Times: 21 
  3. ^ a b Esposito, Stefano (2002-10-27), “Defense: Killing payback for gay taunts: 'She could not leave him alone'.”, Chicago Sun-Times: 40 
  4. ^ Esposito, Stefano (2002-11-06), “I had become a 'monster': Man says in statement he killed over gay taunts.”, Chicago Sun-Times: 24 
  5. ^ a b Herman, Eric (2007-07-03), “Judge spares life of rapist-murderer; 'He absolutely, 100 percent deserved the death penalty'.”, Chicago Sun-Times: 20 
  6. ^ Sorokin, Ellen (2006-11-26), “Gay teen arrested in death; critics see hate crime.”, The Washington Times: A12 
  7. ^ Smith, Allyson (2002-12-04). 'Gay' Reaction to Mrs. Stachowicz’s Murder: Silence to Applause. Concerned Women for America. Retrieved on 2008-01-01.
  8. ^ Dreher, Rod (2006-11-02). Mary Stachowicz asked for it -- defendant. Rod Dreher — Crunchy Con. Retrieved on 2008-01-01.
  9. ^ Paprocki, Thomas J. (2006-04-01). "Marriage, Same-Sex Relationships, and the Catholic Church". Loyola University Chicago Law Journal 38 (2): 247-264. 
  10. ^ Lawler, Phil (2007-11-13). Forum: The martyrdom of Mary Stachowicz. Catholic World News. Retrieved on 2008-01-01.