On a freezing Friday night in January 1993, the Northwest Highway in Palatine, Illinois, should have been quiet. Most people were hunkered down against the suburban winter. But inside the Brown’s Chicken & Pasta at 168 West Northwest Highway, something unspeakable was happening. Seven people—owners and teenagers alike—were being herded into walk-in coolers to be executed. For nearly a decade, the names Juan Luna and James Degorski were just shadows in a cold case file that haunted the Chicago area.
They got away with it for nine years.
Honestly, the sheer length of time this case sat cold is what still gets people. You’ve got a massive crime scene, seven bodies, and a community in a total panic, yet the trail went absolutely dark. It wasn’t until 2002 that the "something big" Degorski had bragged about finally caught up to them.
The Night Everything Changed in Palatine
It was January 8, 1993. The restaurant was supposed to close at 9:00 PM. Richard and Lynn Ehlenfeldt, the owners, were just trying to finish up the night. They had five employees with them: Guadalupe Maldonado, Michael Castro, Rico Solis, Thomas Mennes, and Marcus Nellsen. Castro and Solis were just kids, students at Palatine High School.
The killers didn't just walk in and start shooting.
Juan Luna, who was 18 at the time, actually used to work at that specific Brown’s. He knew the layout. He knew there wasn't an alarm system. He and his high school buddy, James Degorski, entered right around closing. They even ordered a four-piece chicken meal. Degorski was reportedly ticked off that Luna ate the chicken because he was worried about leaving greasy fingerprints behind.
They forced all seven people into the walk-in cooler and freezer. Then, they opened fire.
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The brutality was staggering. They didn't just shoot; they used a knife too. Lynn Ehlenfeldt’s throat was slashed. Michael Castro was stabbed. A total of 21 rounds were fired in that small, cramped space. Before they left, they mopped up some of the blood and cut the power. The restaurant clock stopped at 9:52 PM. They walked away with less than $2,000.
Basically, seven lives were traded for less than $300 a head.
Why the Case Sat Cold for Nine Years
For years, the Palatine Police Department was under fire. People couldn't understand how two guys could kill seven people in a busy suburb and just... disappear. Investigators collected over 20 pieces of partially eaten chicken from the trash, but in 1993, DNA technology wasn't what it is today.
The break finally came in March 2002.
Anne Lockett, who had been dating Degorski at the time of the murders, finally broke her silence. She told police that the duo had confessed to her shortly after the massacre. She’d stayed quiet for nearly a decade because she was terrified. They had threatened to kill her if she talked.
When she finally spoke, the pieces moved fast.
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The DNA and the Half-Eaten Chicken
Remember that chicken Luna ate? It turns out it was the smoking gun. Investigators had kept the remains of that 1993 chicken meal in a freezer for nine years. By 2002, forensic science had caught up.
They extracted a saliva sample from a bone. It matched Juan Luna perfectly.
Luna was arrested in May 2002. Degorski followed shortly after. While Luna eventually confessed during a long interrogation—later claiming it was coerced—the physical evidence was hard to argue with. A palm print on a napkin also placed him at the scene.
The Trials of Juan Luna and James Degorski
The legal battles were long and exhausting for the families. Luna’s trial didn’t happen until 2007. His defense tried to paint him as a family man who had been pressured into a false confession, but the DNA on the chicken bone was the "silent witness" that the prosecution leaned on heavily.
He was found guilty on all seven counts.
Surprisingly, he escaped the death penalty. One single juror held out, which meant he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
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Degorski’s trial came later, in 2009. There was no DNA evidence for him. Instead, the state relied on the testimony of Anne Lockett and another woman, Eileen Bakalla, who had also heard him brag about the killings. Bakalla actually drove the pair away from the scene that night. Like Luna, Degorski was found guilty but spared the death penalty by two jurors.
Where Are They Now?
As of 2026, both men are still behind bars. Following the closure of the Stateville Correctional Center in 2025, the killers were moved. Juan Luna is currently serving his life sentence at the Danville Correctional Center. James Degorski was moved to the Graham Correctional Center.
Over the years, Degorski has tried to appeal multiple times. In 2016 and again in 2022, his lawyers argued that Lockett wasn't a credible witness due to her history of mental health struggles. The courts didn't buy it. Both appeals were shot down.
Interestingly, Degorski actually won a $451,000 civil rights lawsuit in 2014. He had been beaten by a sheriff's deputy while in jail awaiting trial, suffering facial fractures. Most of that money ended up being fought over by the victims' families, who filed their own lawsuits to ensure he wouldn't profit from his time in custody.
The Lasting Impact on the Community
The Brown’s Chicken massacre didn't just hurt the families; it nearly destroyed the entire franchise. Sales across all locations dropped by 35% almost overnight. People were scared to eat at a place that felt like a target. The company eventually had to close about 100 restaurants.
The actual building in Palatine sat vacant for years, a grim reminder for everyone driving down Northwest Highway. It was finally torn down in 2001. Today, a Chase Bank sits on that spot.
If you're looking for the most detailed account of what happened behind the scenes, Patrick Wohl released a book in 2025 titled Something Big: The True Story of the Brown's Chicken Massacre. He interviewed over 40 people, including family members and investigators, to piece together the human side of the tragedy that the headlines often missed.
Actionable Insights for True Crime Researchers
If you are looking into the specifics of this case for academic or journalistic reasons, keep these points in mind:
- Check the DNA record: The case is a landmark for the use of "cold" biological evidence. Looking at the trial transcripts regarding the preservation of the chicken bones provides a great case study in forensic chain of custody.
- Verify the location: Many older articles list the restaurant as still standing. It was demolished in 2001; current maps show a bank at that address.
- Consult the 2025-2026 updates: The closure of Stateville Correctional Center moved many high-profile inmates. Always verify current inmate locators through the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for the most recent housing data.
- Distinguish between the confessions: Luna had physical evidence (palm print and DNA) and a confession. Degorski's conviction relied almost entirely on witness testimony and his own statements to associates. Understanding this distinction is key to understanding why their appeals differ.