Alleged ‘Ripper Crew’ Member Convicted of Murder Released From Prison

An Illinois man convicted of murder and thought to be one of the four men in the “Ripper Crew” that killed as many as 20 women in the 1980s was released from prison Friday morning, The Associated Press reports. Thomas Kokoraleis, 58, was allegedly part of a satanic cult that “abducted, tortured, mutilated and killed women” and was sentenced to life in prison in 1984. However, Kokoraleis reportedly struck a plea deal that permitted an early release—which infuriated the victims’ families. In a press conference on Friday, the family of Lorraine “Lorry” Ann Borowski—whom Kokoraleis allegedly killed in 1982—said they would live in fear for the rest of their lives in light of his release. “Her murderer did not receive the justice that he deserved, but I believe in God and I have no doubt that God will deliver the final judgment,” Borowski’s mother said. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board and the Illinois Department of Corrections reportedly told the AP they were legally required to release Kokoraleis because he had served the maximum time in prison under his plea deal sentence. Kokoraleis’ current whereabouts are reportedly unknown, but he reportedly has three days to register his new address and phone number in the state’s sex offender registry.