Person Page 4,470

Newsppaper articles -- On April 5, 1977, Jack Ernest Baugh murdered Susan Jane Hayes. There are many more articles than those shown below that discuss the case. Baugh was still in prison in 1989. It is not known when he was released.

OBITUARY - Journal Star; Peoria, Illinois; Friday, April 8, 1977; Page 7 (GenealogyBank.com):

Susan Hayes Rites Tomorrow; Victim Of Fatal Beating

Services for Susan Jane Hayes, 24, who was beaten to death in her Woodford County home Tuesday night, will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Peoria Davison Funeral Home.

The Rev. Robert Livingston will officiate.

Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

She was born at Peoria Oct. 19, 1952, a daughter of Budy and Marjorie Crowley Hayes.

Surviving are her parents of 5113 N. Ronald Rd., Peoria; one brother, Michael of Bettendorf, Iowa; one sister, Sally Hayes of Peoria; her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Michael Crowley of Peoria and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Miss Hayes was dead on arrival at St. Francis Hospital at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday. She received bruises to 95 per cent of her body, officials said.

Woodford County Sheriff Jim Durst said last night he isn't yet classifying Miss Hayes' death as murder.

He said police have several days' work left before their investigation will be ended.

Contrary to earlier reports, Durst denied that his men are looking for James Ernest Baugh, who lived at 905 Sunset Dr. with Miss Hayes. Police said Baugh was at the house when an ambulance arrived to take the woman to St. Francis.

Although Baugh spoke with a Woodford County deputy, the deputy did not arrest Baugh at the scene. Instead, he asked the man to meet him at the hospital.

Police said Baugh failed to meet the officer at the hospital.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Journal Star; Peoria, Illinois; Thursday, April 14, 1977; Page D4 (GenealogyBank.com):

Ex-Wife Tells Woodford Court Baugh Told Her 'I Hurt Susie'

EUREKA -- The former wife of the man accused of murdering a Woodward County woman testified yesterday that Jack E. Baugh Sr. told her "I hurt Susie."

Diane Baugh said her ex-husband called her the night Susan Jane Hayes was found beaten to death at the Baugh residence.

"It's an emergency. You've got to help me." Mrs. Baugh testified that Baugh told her. She said he called her about 11:55 p.m. April 5.

"You've got to come over... you've got to come over. You've got to help me," she testified Baugh told her.

"I've hurt her. You've got to look at her. I'm begging you."

Miss Hayes' body was found the morning of April 6.

Baugh, 36, of 905 Sunset Dr., about three miles south of Spring Bay, is charged with the murder of Miss Hayes, 24, with whom he lived.

Baugh was arraigned yesterday on the murder charge and an unlawful use of weapons charge. The bonds totaling over $1 million were revoked by Circuit Judge Samuel Harrod.

At the preliminary hearing Baugh pleaded innocent to the charges.

The preliminary hearing started immediately after Baugh's arraignment. The hearing was continued until next Wednesday at the request of State's Atty. Richard Baner and Baugh's attorney, Joseph Napoli.

Diane Baugh testified that Baugh came to her house later that night and made telephone calls to his mother, Mary Solls, and a stepbrother, attorney Joseph Solls, both in Peoria.

She testified she heard him talk to Solls on the phone and mentioned a cane. She said she heard Baugh tell Solls "I threw it in the river."

Mrs. Baugh said that when she was married to Baugh he had beaten her on various occasions. She said Baugh had beaten her with various objects, including a cane.

Baugh's former wife also testified that he called his mother and said she heard him tell her he was concerned about "suitcases" that he had taken to Mrs. Solls home. He said he didn't want police to find them, she said.

Mrs. Baugh testified that Baugh said there were "lie detector tapes" in the suitcases. She said he told her the tapes were taken from Miss Hayes to determine if she had been lying to him.

She testified that Baugh told her that Miss Hayes and lied to him and that was the reason he had beaten her.

Baugh was afraid to turn himself over to authorities fearing a motorcycle gang was out to get him, Mrs. Baugh said.

She said last fall, following an argument, Baugh threatened to kill her.

Mrs. Solls, who had been subpoenaed to appear yesterday, called Baner to say she was ill and under a doctor's care and unable to be present. Also scheduled, but not testifying in court, was attorney Solls.

An investigator, Harold Shepherd, was the only other witness testifying yesterday.

Miss Hayes was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Francis Hospital, Peoria, in an ambulance that Baugh called shortly after midnight on April 6.

Baugh disappeared following the death of Miss Hayes and Tuesday he surrendered himself to Woodford County police.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Journal Star; Peoria, Illinois; Saturday, June 25, 1977; Page 34 (GenealogyBank.com)

Defendant In Murder Case Enters Guilty Plea

EUREKA -- The accused murderer of an East Peoria woman yesterday entered a plea of guilty in exchange for a prison sentence of 20 to 60 years.

Jack Ernest Baugh, 36, was scheduled to go before a jury Monday on four counts of murder and one of unlawful use of weapons in connection with the death of Susan Hayes, 24.

Yesterday, Judge Luther H. Dearborn presided at the 1 1/2 hour hearing held in Woodford County Circuit Court.

Baugh's plea includes dismissing three counts of murder and paying court costs of $213.

The plea was agreed to by Baugh, his attorney, Joseph Napoli of Peoria, and State's Atty. Richard Baner, but has yet to be agreed to by the judge.

An original plea calling for a sentence of 20 to 40 years was rejected by Dearborn.

BAUGH ALSO faces charges filed Wednesday by Asst. District Atty. Terry Harn in federal court in Peoria, charging him with illegal possession of weapons.

Baugh was convicted on Oct. 1, 1965, of robbing a savings and loan, a felony which prohibits the offender from possessing firearms.

It was reported that Baugh has agreed to a 35-year prison sentence on the federal gun charges, but it is subject to approval of Judge Robert Morgan.

Baner said it is hoped that Baugh will receive concurrent term with the federal charges.

Dearborn asked for a presentence report and set a July 6 date for Baugh's sentencing hearing.

If Judge Dearborn approves the 20 to 60 year sentence, Baugh will be eligible for parole in 11 years and three months, according to Asst. State's Atty. John Nicoara.

Baugh surrended himself to Woodford County authorities on April 12 and was held in Woodford County Jail without bail until Wednesday when federal authorities moved him to Peoria County Jail.

The Hayes woman's body was found at Baugh's residence, 905 Sunset Dr., East Peoria, April 6.

Hayes also had been living at that address.

OBITUARY - Jack Ernest Baugh (murderer of Susan Jane Hayes) - Peoria Journal Star; Peoria, Illinois; January 16, 2011 (Find-A-Grave):

PEORIA, IL - Jack E. Baugh, 69, of Peoria passed away Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at his residence.

He was born Aug. 23, 1941, to Robert and Mary Crayton Baugh in Peoria.

He was preceded in death by his father.

He is survived by his fiancee, Janice Farquharson of Peoria, and his mother, Mary Solls of Peoria.

Jack was a mental health professional, working for South Side Office of Concern in Peoria.

He served in the U.S. Army.

He was a very compassionate person and cared about others.

He was an avid reader and loved collecting succulent plants, painting and photography. He was a film buff.

Cremation has been accorded.

Obituary -- Chicago Trubune; Chicago, Illinois; Saturday, August 5, 2006; Page I-17 (Newspapers.com):

MESA, RUBEN I.

Ruben I. Mesa, age 62, beloved husband of Sally, nee Hayes; loving father of Luly (Bob) Gonzalez, Tery (Augusto) Delgado, Ruben A. MD (Kris) Mesa, Marco Mesa and Anna Mesa; cherished grandfather of Gus, Ricky, Tony, Alex, Ruben V. and Katie; loving son of the late Ruben and Teresa Mesa; and loving step-son of Delmis Mesa; fond uncle, cousin, godfather and friend to many. Visitation at the Skaja Terrece Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles on Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m. Funeral services Monday 10:30. Mass. Interment Maryhill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society appreciated. Funeral info, 847-966-7302 or www.skajafuneralhomes.com.

Sign Guestbook at chicagotribune.com/obituaries.

Note: It is thought that the children mentioned in the above obituary are from an earlier marriage. For example, Dr. Rubin Anthony Mesa was born in 1965. Sally (Hayes) Mesa was only nine years old in 1965.