Court Affirms Conviction Of Man Who Murdered Ex In Lombard Fire

After claiming there was no probable cause for his arrest and seeking an appeal, a man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend in a 2012 fire was denied his last attempts to avoid prison.

The Second District Appellate Court of Illinois affirmed Todd Mandoline's conviction Wednesday, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin announced in a release.

Mandoline, 31, was arrested after his 24-year-old ex-girlfriend Paula Morgan was killed in a blaze that Mandoline started by setting Morgan’s mom’s car aflame, the release states. Mandoline was present at a July 21, 2012, birthday party Morgan was hosting for herself at her Lombard home, but was asked to leave during the party.

Later that night, in the early hours of July 22, Mandoline returned to the house to set fire to the car in the driveway. The flames spread to Morgan’s home, killed her and severely injured one of her friends.

Mandoline was quickly found guilty of first degree murder and aggravated arson by a jury, and in April 2015 was sentenced to a consecutive 27 and 12 years for murder and arson by Judge John Kinsella.

With the help of attorney Edward Psenicka, though, Mandoline filed an appeal in which he claimed there was no probable cause for his arrest, his statements to police weren’t knowing or voluntary, statements he made were in violation of a law that requires electronic recording, and his trial court was mistaken in its jury instructions.

The Appellate Court announced on Wednesday its decision to affirm Mandoline’s convictions after carefully investigating his appeal claims.

“I would like to thank the Appellate Court for their extremely thorough and detailed review Mr. Mandoline’s claims,” Berlin said in the release. “The issues raised by Mr. Mandonline in his appeal were nothing more than a last, desperate attempt to avoid responsibility for the murder of Paula Morgan. It is my sincerest hope that with the Appellate Court’s decision, Paula Morgan’s family and friends will now be able to proceed with their lives knowing that Mr. Mandoline will pay for what he has taken from them.”

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