Darien Family Murderer Jacob Nodarse Gets 75 Years In Prison

The man who was coerced into fatally shooting a Darien family in 2010 was sentenced Monday to spend what could be the rest of his life behind Illinois bars.

Judge Daniel Guerin ordered Jacob Nodarse, 26, to 75 years in prison. He delivered the sentence at the end of a nearly 70-minute sentencing hearing at the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton. Nodarse is required to serve the entire sentence, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

The sentencing is the final court-related chapter in the Kramer family murders. Nodarse, formerly of Countryside, broke into their home and shot Jeffrey, 50, Lori, 48, and Michael Kramer, 20, to death on March 2, 2010.

"Mr. Nodarse, when you shattered that glass, you shattered that family," Guerin said, in reference to Nodarse using a hammer to break into the Kramer home. "You destroyed and altered those lives forever."

Nodarse pled guilty but mentally ill in 2011 to a single count of first-degree murder in the death of Jeffrey Kramer as part of plea deal. Nodarse also had to testify against Johnny Borizov, whom a jury found guilty in May of masterminding the plot to kill the family. 

Borizov is now serving three consecutive terms of natural life in prison. He was in a heated child custody batted with Angela Kramer, Jeffrey and Lori's daughter. He wanted Nodarse to kill her as well, but she survived by hiding in a closet. She read a victim impact statement Monday before Nodarse was sentenced.

"Jacob Nodarse does not deserve any feeling of ever being free," Kramer said. "This defendant chose to murder my family."

Nodarse spoke for about 10 minutes, expressing remorse and expecting his suffering to continue.

"Angela, I am so incredibly sorry from what I took from you," he read in the courtroom on Monday. "I know there is no way I can understand your pain ... I hope you will be reunited with your loved ones in paradise forever. There are no words for how sorry I am for what I've done to you."

Nodarse also talked about how Michael Kramer was his best friend and the time they spent together. After Nodarse spoke, Guerin reminded Kramer that he not only murdered his friend, but his parents as well.

"He was armed and masked and left (the Kramers) to die in a pool of blood," Guerin said. "They each were shot multiple times, with a finishing bullet to the head."

Nodarse faced a prison sentence of between 45 years to natural life in the Illinois Department of Corrections. 

"Trials are a truth seeking process," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. "As a result of Jacob Nodarse taking responsibility for his role in the murders of Jeffrey, Lori and Michael Kramer and providing truthful testimony in the case against Johnny Borizov, the jury was able to hear the truth about this horrific case and make a decision based on all the facts.

"Today’s sentence reflects the horrific nature of Nodarse’s crimes while taking into account his cooperation and testimony in Johnny Borizov’s trial," Berlin said. "I would like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Joe Ruggiero, Bernie Murray and Amanda Meindl for their outstanding efforts on behalf of the Kramer family."

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