McHenry County Government: PHILLIP SOPER, 1970s MURDERER, DENIED BAIL

Press release from the McHenry County Government:

02/25/2022 4:44 PM

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

On February 24, 2022, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted unanimously to deny parole to Phillip Soper.  Phillip Soper (73) is currently serving two consecutive 150-200 year sentences for the First Degree Murders of Marlene Ahrens and Guenther Dolenski.

On December 17, 1970, armed with a .22 caliber handgun, Phillip Soper attempted to rob what he thought was a McHenry tavern.  Soper mistakenly approached the rear entrance of a dental office, not the intended tavern.  Marlene Ahrens of Woodstock, Illinois was leaving her job as a dental assistant when she came across the masked Phillip Soper.  Soper fired one fatal shot into Marlene’s chest and then fired repeatedly at the building owner, John Boeker, who had come to investigate the initial shooting.  Mr. Boeker was struck by one of the bullets but survived his injuries.

The very next evening, December 18, 1970, a masked Soper took the same loaded .22 caliber handgun and entered the Farmhouse Tavern.  Inside he robbed the patrons and bartender of approximately $750.  Prior to exiting the tavern, he fired five fatal shots into the chest and abdomen of Guenther Dolenski.

Surviving members of the Ahrens and Dolenski families were permitted to lodge their formal protest to Mr. Soper’s release during a remote hearing before a Prisoner Review Board Member on January 19, 2022.  Criminal Division Chief Jim Newman appeared before the full board on February 24, 2022 and argued that releasing Mr. Soper would deprecate the seriousness of his offenses.  He further reminded the board that Mr. Soper had admitted to killing four other individuals in neighboring states prior to coming to McHenry County. 

“Currently, legislators in Springfield are considering resurrecting the parole laws that were in effect at the time Mr. Soper committed these unspeakable crimes and that he now benefits from,” said McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally.  “The fact that the victims in this case have to hold their breath every few years and hope that a new parole panel in Springfield does the right thing is absurd and prevents victims of crime from truly ever moving on.”

After denying parole to Soper, the Board further ordered that any future request not be considered for five additional years.  

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This press release was produced by the McHenry County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.