Bond raised on new charges against convicted killer Donald Whalen

Posted on May 18, 2020
Whalen was convicted and sentenced to 60 years in prison for fatally stabbing and beating his father at the elder Whalen’s downtown Bloomington bar 29-years ago. (Photo courtesy: HOI)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – Legal troubles mount for a Bloomington man who’s back in jail for escape and violating a protection order — all while the Illinois Supreme Court decides whether to hear an appeal of his 1991 murder conviction.

After a judge’s ruling on Friday, Donald Whalen has to come up with $25,000 in cash to be released from the McLean County Jail on the latest charges.

A year ago, Whalen left the jail after posting a $100,000 cash bond. A judge threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial, believing new evidence about his father’s killing might lead to a different verdict.

While out on bond, McLean County prosecutors allege Whalen violated conditions of electronic monitoring in February and April by leaving his home, and visiting several places, including a pawn shop, drug store, truck stop, and furniture store, in Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Champaign.

In jail again on the felony escape charges, authorities said he spoke by phone with his girlfriend six times over a two-day period earlier this month, violating the protection order she filed against him before his latest arrest for alleged domestic disturbances.

Whalen was convicted and sentenced to 60 years in prison for fatally stabbing and beating his father at the elder Whalen’s downtown Bloomington bar 29-years ago.

The Fourth District Appellate Court sided with local prosecutors and reinstated Whalen’s murder conviction. Whalen is now asking the state Supreme Court to hear the case.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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