Guilty in Murder of Tinley Park Mechanic, Killer Gives Judge 'Evil Eye'

A 32-year-old felon was found guilty of murdering and robbing a Tinley Park mechanic who came home from work late one night in 2009.

In an attempt to steal the mechanic’s new, blue Honda Fit, Lazerrick Mosley stalked and pushed William “Randy” Schmidt, 53, inside his apartment and “killed him because (Schmidt) saw his face,” Cook County Judge John J. Hynes said Thursday.

Wearing a rosary, Mosley leaned back in his chair and gave Hynes an intent stare during the verdict — a stare possibly similar to the one he gave his own family members who testified against him during the trial.

“I’ve seen that before in the courtroom, and that’s the evil eye of intimidation,” Hynes said.

DNA evidence and the testimony of Mosley’s family were credible enough to link the Chicago man to home invasion, possession of a stolen vehicle, armed robbery and three counts of first-degree murder, Hynes said.

However, Hynes found Mosley not guilty of one count of first-degree murder and home invasion for supposed redundancies of charges.

Sentencing is scheduled on Jan. 9, 2012. Mosley faces 26 years to life behind bars.

In November Mosley’s father and other members of his family took the stand against him, testifying that he . According to Hynes, they said Mosley ditched the keys to Schmidt's car in a forest preserve before realizing he may have left DNA on the knife buried somewhere in the clutter of Schmidt's apartment.

Mosley’s father identified the knife used to stab and cut Mosley's throat as the one he used to peel vegetables.

The judge said he believed Mosley’s father, who swore “I didn’t come all the way down here to lie against my son.” Mosley’s step-brother said he didn’t come forth sooner because he was afraid that Mosley would hurt him, too.

They knew details of the crime “only the killer would know,” Hynes said.

Furthermore, Hynes sided with a state forensic expert who linked mingled bits of DNA on the knife and the car’s handle and steering wheel through satistical probability to Mosley over a similar expert for the defense.

After entering the courtroom, Mosley never looked back at his wife, Sandra, whose quiet sobs induced shaking when all was said and done.

“I know I should feel sorry for Mr. Schmidt right now, but my God,” she later said between spasms of heavy breathing. “(Mosley) wasn’t like that with me. I can’t believe this. He was not like that.”

She and her husband were married in March 2009, she said, months before his arrest for murder.

Mosley, who once lived near Schmidt, has been in and out of prison on charges related to battery, robbery and vehicular highjacking for years and was in prison by the time forensic evidence led to him.