Prosecutors secure Life Sentence in 2006 Murder of a Federal Informant
A Chicago man convicted in the murder of a federal informant was sentenced to life in prison, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Spencer Martin, 35, was convicted by a jury in October of the 2006 murder of federal informant Earl Willis.Â
According to prosecutors, Willis was last seen in the early morning hours of February 4, 2006. He was reported missing two days later and his body was found May 12, 2006 in his vehicle in the area of 72nd and Indiana. His death was the result of multiple gunshot wounds. Firearms evidence collected from Willis’ remains and vehicle was shown to have been fired from the same gun that was used in two other shootings in Chicago previously committed by Martin.
In the first shooting, which occurred on January 14, of 2006, Martin shot two individuals near 68th and Ashland. The victims, who survived their injuries, did not know Martin. Firearms evidence collected from that scene was eventually matched to a gun used in another shooting done by Martin on February 4th of 2006. In that shooting, which occurred at a gas station in the 700 block of West Lawrence and was captured on videotape, Willis was driving his vehicle and was with Martin. Spencer Martin exited Willis’ van and tried to rob then shot the victim. Martin and Willis then fled the area in Willis’ van. The victim in this shooting identified both Martin and Willis in photo arrays.Â
According to prosecutors, this incident was the last time Earl Willis was seen alive. Â Firearms evidence collected from the gas station scene was found to have been fired from the same weapon that was used in the January 2006 shooting near 68th and Ashland. Investigators then showed photos of Martin to the victims from the 68th and Ashland shooting, who identified Spencer Martin as the shooter.
Willis’ body was eventually found in his vehicle in the 7200 block of South Indiana. Firearms evidence recovered from Willis’ vehicle was fired from the same firearm as evidenced from the previous two incidents. Also found in the pocket of a coat which covered Willis’ remains was an open bottle of liquor that had Martin’s DNA on it.
Cook County Judge Steven Goebel sentenced Martin to natural life plus 60 years in prison on Thursday during a hearing at the George Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. Martin was previously convicted of attempted murder and armed robbery in the gas station case and sentenced to 24 years in prison. Martin was also convicted of attempted murder in the shootings near 67th and Ashland and sentenced to 110 years in prison.   All sentences are to run consecutively.
State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Tom Darman and Joe Keating and the Chicago Police Department for their hard work on these cases.
