Former IL Governor Dies

ILLINOIS — Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who halted the death penalty in Illinois and served a prison sentence for corruption, has died at age 91, according to multiple reports.

"Sending my deepest condolences to former Governor Ryan's family and loved ones," current Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said on X. "May his memory be a blessing."

Ryan served as Illinois Secretary of State from 1991 to 1999 and as governor from 1999 to 2003. In 2006, he was convicted on fraud and racketeering charges and served five years in federal prison.

In 2000, Ryan famously issued a moratorium on executions in the state of Illinois, and later commuted the sentences of more than 150 people on death row.

The corruption case against Ryan stemmed from a 1994 crash that killed the six youngest children of Rev. Duane “Scott” Willis and wife Janet Willis. The investigation into the crash revealed a bribery scheme during Ryan's time as Secretary of State that allowed unqualified truck drivers to receive commercial driver's licenses. The fatal crash, which also left the Willises severely burned, was caused a truck driver who allegedly bribed an employee of the Secretary of State's office under Ryan's watch.

Ryan and his wife, Lura Lynn, had six children. During his time in prison, Lura Lynn, died of cancer. Ryan was released from prison in 2013.

After Ryan's probation ended in 2014, he told the Sun-Times that he prayed daily for the Willis children — ages 7, 9, 11, 13 and just 6 weeks — but felt no responsibility for their deaths.