MARSEILLES, Ill. — Logan Petre, 23, was convicted of first-degree murder in the June 15, 2024 strangulation death of his father, 54-year-old Leo Petre, at their shared Marseilles residence. Following a bench trial before Judge Michelle A. Vescogni, Petre was found guilty on all three counts on September 5, 2025 and, on November 24, 2025, sentenced to 52 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The case was prosecuted in La Salle County Circuit Court.
By Willow Moss | Moss and Ink | Updated November 24, 2025
Case Status
- Current status: Closed — convicted and sentenced; defendant transferred to IDOC (intends to appeal)
- Verdict: Guilty on all 3 counts of first-degree murder (bench trial, Sept. 5, 2025)
- Sentence: 52 years; 100% to be served (no day-for-day credit), with credit for 529 days already served
- Custody status: In Illinois Department of Corrections custody
- Court: La Salle County Circuit Court
- Presiding/Sentencing judge: Michelle A. Vescogni
- Last updated: November 24, 2025
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
- Victim: Leo Petre, 54
- Defendant: Logan Petre, 21 at the time of the offense (now 23)
Authorities allege 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. An autopsy confirmed death by manual strangulation with severe force; the victim had an elevated blood-alcohol level and cocaine metabolites, but neither contributed to death.
Arrest & Charges
- First Degree Murder — three counts (20–60 years, 100% service required; natural life possible)
Additional pending, unrelated charges:
- Aggravated Battery (stemming from a post-arrest jail altercation)
- Separate pending cases including home invasion and other aggravated batteries
Evidence & Allegations
- Forensic pathologist Dr. Scott Denton testified to manual strangulation with broken neck bones; unconsciousness possible within 30–60 seconds and death within 3–5 minutes of continuous pressure.
- A full five-hour police interview was played, in which Logan made multiple incriminating and contradictory statements and expressed no remorse; he acknowledged a prolonged period of strangulation.
- Crime-scene evidence included bloodied towels, bloody clothing in the washer and bedroom, and blood near the kitchen sink.
- Logan testified, claiming long-term physical and verbal abuse by his father and that the victim initiated the fight; he portrayed the killing as an unintended escalation.
- On cross-examination, the prosecution highlighted the victim’s financial and emotional support of Logan (private-school tuition, wrestling coaching, a prior bond payment) and argued the self-defense claim was fabricated after the fact.
Case Timeline & Proceedings
June 15, 2024 — Incident and arrest
Leo Petre found unresponsive at the Opal Street residence around 1:30 a.m.; Logan Petre arrested at the scene.
May 28 – Aug. 8, 2025 — Bench trial
Bench trial held before Judge Michelle A. Vescogni across five trial dates (May 28, June 2, July 15, August 5, and August 8, 2025). Prosecution: Jeremiah Adams. Defense: Public Defender Ryan Hamer. Testimony included the forensic pathologist, the recorded police interview, crime-scene evidence, and Logan’s own testimony asserting self-defense.
Sept. 5, 2025 — Verdict
Judge Vescogni delivered the bench verdict, rejecting the self-defense claim entirely and finding Logan not credible (noting the only consistent truthful statement was the duration of strangulation). The court found Logan guilty on all three counts of first-degree murder. During the hearing Logan had multiple outbursts and was removed from the courtroom; he was remanded to La Salle County Jail pending sentencing.
Nov. 24, 2025 — Sentencing
Logan became combative on entering the courtroom, repeatedly interrupted the judge, and was physically removed after several outbursts; he refused to return and remained in his cell for the rest of the hearing (jail staff testified it would be unsafe to bring him back).
Evidence in aggravation (State): Multiple prior violent incidents (a 2023 home-invasion knife attack, unprovoked assaults on former friends, and jail attacks including a July 2024 rec-yard beating captured on video); a history of erratic, aggressive behavior toward law enforcement, medical staff, and jail personnel (requiring sedation, homicidal threats, and assaults on staff); and a continued lack of remorse.
Mitigation (Defense): Young age (21 at the offense), alleged long-term abuse by the victim, no prior adult violent convictions (only traffic and pending cases), and severe mental-health deterioration in jail.
Judge Vescogni’s ruling: Explicitly found this was not second-degree murder or manslaughter; found zero credible mitigating factors; and concluded the defendant poses an ongoing danger to the public, lacks remorse, and killed the victim while out on a bond the victim himself had paid.
Sentence: 52 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, 100% to be served (no day-for-day credit), with credit for 529 days already served. The effective release date with credit is approximately 2076 (Logan would be 73–74 years old). Post-sentencing motions for acquittal/new trial were denied; the defendant indicated intent to appeal and was transferred to IDOC.
All information is sourced from publicly available law-enforcement releases, court filings, and official statements. This case has concluded at the trial level; an appeal has been indicated.
Written by Willow Moss