Johnny Borizov Receives 3 Life Sentences For Plotting Kramer Family Murders

A former Willow Springs man was sentenced Monday to spend the rest of his days behind bars after being convicted in three murders of a Darien family.

Judge Daniel Guerin ordered Johnny Borizov to three consecutive sentences of natural life in prison. He received one life sentence each for the death for Jeffrey, Lori and Michael Kramer, who were all murdered in their Darien home on March 2, 2010.

Borizov was also sentenced to 30 years for being convicted of solicitation of murder. The sentence was the maximum allowed for the solicitation charge, which is a Class X felony.

Guerin sentenced Borizov at the end of a 3.5-hour sentencing hearing, which included impact statements from Judy Pokorny, Jeffrey Kramer's mom, and Jeffrey and Lori Kramer's daughter Angela, who Borizov also tried to have killed, according to prosecutors.

The impact statements and sentence were read in a courtroom filled with members of the Kramer family as well as the Borizov family. Some of the Kramer family members embraced inside and out of the courtroom after the sentencing was read. Someone in the courtroom whispered "Yes" loudly when Guerin announced the life sentences.

Kramer was overcome with emotion as she began to read her statement, but her voice gained strength as she continued and concluded.

"My family did not deserve these brutal deaths," Kramer said on the witness stand Monday. "Although nothing can bring my family back, I want to be sure that this defendant does not murder another family. This defendant or people like him should not be granted anything for free, including their lives."

Borizov, who wore an orange jail jumpsuit but was allowed to be uncuffed during the sentencing hearing, appeared reserved during much of the hearing. He spoke softly at first then became firmer as he replied "yes" multiple times to Guerin as he asked him if he understood his sentence and the appeals process. 

During Borizov's trial, prosecutors argued that Borizov manipulated his co-defendant Jacob Nodarse into breaking into the Kramers home on March 2, 2010 and shooting the family to death. Nodarse killed three family members, but two survived including Angela Kramer, who is the mother of Borizov's son. 

On Sept. 20, 2011, Nodarse, formerly of Countryside, pled guilty but mentally ill to one count of first-degree murder for his role in the killings. Nodarse was also required to cooperate and testify truthfully in the case against Borizov.

Guerin also heard a motion for a new trial and soundly denied all of its 34 paragraphs and addendum. Objections about things such as jurors and videotape shown were already address throughout the trial, Guerin and Assistant State's Attorney Amanda Meindl argued. 

Nodarse’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12. In exchange for his plea of guilty, Nodarse will face a prison sentence of between 45 years to natural life in the Illinois Department of Corrections, of which he will be required to serve 100 percent. 

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