Moss and Ink local

Skip ahead:

1. Incident Overview
2. Charges
3. Trial Proceedings
4. Verdict
5. Sentencing

Incident Overview

Date: June 15, 2024 (early morning hours; discovered approx. 1:30 a.m.)

Location: 800 block of Opal Street, Marseilles, La Salle County, Illinois

Victim: Leo Petre, 54 years old

Defendant: Logan Petre, 21 at the time of the offense (now 23)

Summary: Logan Petre manually strangled his father, Leo Petre, during a domestic altercation inside their shared residence. Leo was found unresponsive on the floor by his mother (Logan’s grandmother), Julie Petre, who called 911 after Logan allegedly asked her to help burn the body and dispose of bloody clothing. Logan was arrested at the scene. Autopsy confirmed death by manual strangulation with severe force; victim had elevated blood-alcohol level and cocaine metabolites, but neither contributed to death.

Charges

• First Degree Murder – three counts (20–60 years, 100% service required; natural life possible)

Additional pending/unrelated charges:

• Aggravated Battery (stemming from post-arrest jail altercation)
• Separate pending cases including home invasion and other aggravated batteries

Trial (Bench Trial before Judge Michelle A. Vescogni)

Trial dates: May 28, June 2, July 15, August 5, and August 8, 2025

Prosecution: Jeremiah Adams

Defense: Public Defender Ryan Hamer

Key evidence & testimony

• Forensic pathologist Dr. Scott Denton: Manual strangulation with broken neck bones; unconsciousness possible within 30–60 seconds, death in 3–5 minutes of continuous pressure.
• Full five-hour police interview played: Logan made multiple incriminating and contradictory statements (“If he was going to die, I’m glad it was me,” “I just unleashed,” “You’re gonna kill me” – victim’s alleged words, “at least 5 minutes, maybe 10” of strangulation, “God’s plan,” no remorse).
• Crime-scene evidence: Bloodied towels, bloody clothing in washer and bedroom, blood near kitchen sink.
• Logan testified: Claimed long-term physical and verbal abuse by father, victim initiated fight by head-butting and slapping; portrayed killing as unintended escalation.
• Prosecution cross: Highlighted Leo’s financial and emotional support (paid private-school tuition, coached wrestling, paid prior bond), argued self-defense claim was fabricated after the fact.

Closing arguments (August 8, 2025)

• State: Self-defense claim “almost complete nonsense”; actions after killing (cleaning evidence, asking grandmother to help burn body) showed intent and consciousness of guilt.
• Defense: Victim was intoxicated, on cocaine, physically imposing (315 lbs vs. Logan ~140 lbs), and the initial aggressor; years of systematic abuse made the outcome tragic but justifiable.

Verdict – September 5, 2025

Bench verdict delivered by Judge Michelle A. Vescogni. During the hearing Logan had multiple outbursts and was ultimately removed from the courtroom.

Finding:

• Rejected self-defense claim entirely
• Found Logan not credible; only consistent truthful statement was the duration of strangulation (5–10 minutes)
• GUILTY on all three counts of First Degree Murder

Remanded to La Salle County Jail pending sentencing.

Sentencing – November 24, 2025

Logan Petre became combative immediately upon entering the courtroom, repeatedly interrupted the judge, and was physically dragged out after several outbursts. He refused to return and remained in his cell for the remainder of the hearing (jail staff testified it would be unsafe to bring him back).

Evidence in aggravation (State witnesses):

• Multiple prior violent incidents (2023 home-invasion/knife attack, unprovoked assaults on former friends, jail attacks including a July 2024 rec-yard beating captured on video).
• History of erratic, aggressive behavior toward law enforcement, medical staff, and jail personnel (required sedation, made homicidal threats, kicked and attempted to bite staff).
• No remorse; continued to slander victim posthumously.

Mitigation (Defense):

• Young age (21 at offense), alleged long-term abuse by victim, no prior adult violent convictions (only traffic and pending cases), severe mental-health deterioration in jail.

Judge Vescogni’s ruling:

• Explicitly found this was not second-degree murder or manslaughter
• Zero credible mitigating factors
• Defendant poses ongoing danger to public, lacks remorse, and killed victim while out on bond paid by the victim himself

Sentence: 52 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections

• 100% of sentence must be served (no day-for-day credit)
• Credit for 529 days already served

Effective release date (with credit): approximately 2076 (Logan will be 73–74 years old). Post-sentencing motions for acquittal/new trial denied. Defendant indicated intent to appeal.

Case status: Closed – defendant transferred to IDOC.

Written by Willow Moss