Joliet Order Of Protection Murder: Sentence Given For Killer Willie Banks

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet murderer who was found guilty at his jury trial in July learned on Tuesday that he is getting a 70-year prison sentence for ending the life of west-side resident Alicia Cole. Will County Judge Tom Slazyk ordered the sentence served at 100 percent for Willie Banks.

In July, a Will County jury returned guilty verdicts of first-degree murder against Alicia Cole's killer. The 40-year-old woman from Westshire Drive was the victim of multiple incidents of domestic violence. She obtained two orders of protection against Banks prior to being murdered.

During her final moments, Cole was on the phone with 911 as Banks ended her life, shooting her multiple times inside her home on Joliet's west side, near Ingalls Avenue and Larkin Avenue.

During the 911 call, Cole told 911 dispatchers, "I'm dead."

As for Banks, court documents show that he was already on electronic monitoring at the time of the Joliet murder on Dec. 13, 2023, at 1106 Westshire Drive. As a result of his pending Will County criminal cases, one of his bail conditions included the provision that Banks have no contact with Cole.

According to the court files, Banks was under the influence of alcohol, and he became so upset with her back in late March 2023 that he took their cat's food and put it in her mouth and forced her to eat it, then he threw her smartwatch in the toilet. Afterward, Cole stayed at a hotel, and when she returned home to change her locks, Banks showed up and took her into the bedroom and told her he was going to kill her and the guy changing the locks, as well as her family, court documents said.

The court files indicate that Cole withdrew her order of protection against Banks on May 3, 2023, seven months before she was murdered inside her own home.

Previous Joliet Patch coverage:

• Woman Slain In Joliet Home ID'd By Coroner
• 'I'm Dead': Joliet Woman Reported Previous Attacks By Man Charged In Her Slaying