A 33-year-old man is being held in custody after being charged with first-degree murder in connection with a 1992 strangulation of a 28-year-old woman on the West Side. Cook County Circuit Judge Matthew E. Coghlan denied bond Wednesday for James Singleton, formerly of the 5700 block of North Winthrop Avenue.
Singleton is expected to be tried along with Rayford Rodgers, 38, of the 100 block of North Lavergne Avenue.
Singleton and Rodgers allegedly entered Angela Gardley’s apartment in the 1600 block of North Luna Avenue on June 12, 1992 to exchange crack-cocaine for sexual intercourse. Assistant State’s Attorney Anne G. Head said that during the encounter, Singleton strangled Gardley to death.
Rodgers was arrested recently, and prosecutors said DNA from Rodgers linked him to Gardley’s murder. Rodgers, who is being held in lieu of $710,000 bond, named Singleton during interviews with police following his arrest. The two men have been blaming the murder on one another, according to prosecutors.
Singleton, has a criminal record and has been in the Shawnee Correctional Facility in Vienna, Ill., since 2003 for aggravated battery. Both men are scheduled to appear again before a judge today.
