Bye-bye BJ

They were the perfect couple. She, ever so blonde, beautiful and elegant, and he, the tall handsome Southern boy oozing with charm. They had it all. Several homes were theirs in Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois, including a 13,000 square foot brick home they had recently built in the far northwest suburbs on 11 acres of wooded and hilly property. They called it Brigadoon and they moved in, bought new furnishings and filled the five car garage with a Jaguar, Mercedes SUV, the newest pick-up truck, a huge golf cart and a farm sized tractor. They had a successful business in northern Illinois that focused on agricultural items and created a fortune for them worth 20 million dollars. She held a Master's Degree and he a Ph.D. Thought to be loving law-abiding citizens, this perfect well respected couple hosted numerous charity events at their new home, which awed many who saw it. Jack Daniels was over ice for him, Beefeater's was her beverage of choice.

Yet something was wrong. She had numerous physical ailments, including arm, shoulder, and rib injuries. She visited doctor after doctor searching for a cure. Then there was the black eye she wore so elegantly with her formal black gown and sparkling diamonds to a fund raiser. While it surely was a "sign," no one picked up on it and her life continued in a downward spiral until September 13, 2004, when it almost ended. They were supposedly on their way to Paris, but in fact she was air-lifted to a major trauma center for the two week Paris vacation period, and he was eventually arrested and charged.

After a long and painful two month jury trial in March and April of 2007, BJ Cox was found guilty of first degree attempted murder of his wife of 43 years and criminal aggravated battery and he will be sentenced on Friday. To support Carolyn, the courtroom will be full of friends who will again make the trip to the McHenry County Courthouse, some fifty-five miles northwest of Chicago, 70 minutes by train. The outcome, while predictable, will be gruesome for the felon as well as those in the gallery. If only someone had been more intuitive, keen, aware or nosey, maybe this would have ended differently. No one will ever know, and on Friday, a former friend will learn his fate, and a current friend will feel somewhat safer at night, thanks to McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi and his skillful prosecutors. Justice for all.