Madison County Judge Rejects Release Request for Zigler

EDWARDSVILLE — Albert Lee Zigler was ordered to be held in the Madison County Jail pending trial after appearing Wednesday before Judge Hackett for a detention hearing in the 1993 murder of Randy Gail Sperino of Granite City.

Hackett ruled that Zigler should remain jailed until trial in the case, which prosecutors said stems from Sperino’s killing on Nov. 9, 1993.

During the hearing, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office argued that Zigler drove by Sperino as she was walking down Rock Road in Granite City. Prosecutors said witnesses saw Sperino get into a dark-colored truck at about 8 p.m. and said evidence will show that Zigler had a truck matching that description.

Prosecutors also said Zigler lived about a half mile from the last place Sperino was seen alive. Sperino was later found murdered on Hanfelder Road, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office.

The State’s Attorney’s Office said Sperino died of a skull fracture caused by a heavy blunt-force object.

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Prosecutors said Zigler was identified after 30 years through a genealogy website called Family Tree. When police met with Zigler in April, they said, he denied knowing Sperino or murdering her.

After detectives left their phone number with Zigler, prosecutors said, he called them a few days later and admitted to killing Sperino.

According to the State’s Attorney’s Office, Zigler told police he drove the victim to a corn field and killed her with a baseball bat or a metal pipe. Prosecutors said he told police that Sperino became angry when he would not pay her for sex and hit his truck, and that he then became angry and killed her.

Madison County Public Defender Mary Copeland argued that police obtained a DNA swab from Zigler while he was recovering from a massive heart attack. Copeland said a nurse had to intervene and tell police to leave.

Copeland also argued that Zigler has significant health problems, that his family is trying to place him in assisted living, and that he should be released pending trial. She said Zigler poses no threat to the public and is a law-abiding citizen.

Hackett sided with prosecutors, saying Zigler could have come forward at any time during the last 30 years. The judge also said that because of the severity of the case, Zigler should remain in custody until trial.

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