Cory Gregory

Timeline

• January 21, 2005 — Cory Gregory and Sarah Kolb killed Adrianne Reynolds in Sarah Kolb's car at a fast-food restaurant; after the killing, the body was taken to Kolb's grandparents' farm and burned, according to prosecutors.
• Two days later — Cory Gregory, Sarah Kolb, and a third teen returned and sawed Adrianne Reynolds' body into pieces, according to prosecutors.
• April 2006 — Cory Gregory pleaded guilty in April to murder and concealment of a homicide in the death of Adrianne Reynolds.
• July 10, 2006 — Cory Gregory was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the death of classmate Adrianne Reynolds.
• July 11, 2006 — Cory Gregory was sentenced to prison for killing and dismembering Adrianne Reynolds.
• July 13, 2006 — Cory Gregory was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
• August 18, 2006 — Sarah Kolb was scheduled to be sentenced.

Background

Cory Gregory was 18 at the time he pleaded guilty in April. He was a teenager accused of helping his ex-girlfriend kill and dismember a 16-year-old classmate. His ex-girlfriend was Sarah Kolb, who was also 18.

Adrianne Reynolds was 16 years old. She was identified as a classmate of Cory Gregory and the person who was killed, burned, and dismembered.

Theresa Gregory was Cory Gregory's mother and wept when his future was handed down.

Tony Reynolds was Adrianne Reynolds' father and stepmother's concern at first included that Adrianne was initially reported missing by Tony and Joann Reynolds. Tony Reynolds said he would never forgive Cory Gregory and Sarah Kolb.

Joann Reynolds was identified as Adrianne Reynolds' stepmother.

Mike McCollum was Adrianne Reynolds' uncle and he requested leniency for Cory Gregory. He said that, if it were not for Gregory, the case might have been unsolved and that her body would not have been found.

The offence

Prosecutors said Cory Gregory and Sarah Kolb killed Adrianne Reynolds in Sarah Kolb's car at a fast-food restaurant on Jan. 21, 2005, then took the body to Kolb's grandparents' farm and burned it.

The pair returned two days later with a third teen and sawed the body into pieces, dumping some remains on the farm and burying the rest in a state park, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said Kolb was angry because Reynolds, who had recently moved to the state, was taking her friends and had shown interest in Kolb's boyfriend and Gregory.

Another account described a fight between teenagers in a Taco Bell parking lot that left Reynolds dead, and later described that the teens burned and dismembered her body before hiding the remains at Blackhawk State Park.

Prosecutors theorized Cory Gregory held Adrianne Reynolds' arms while Sarah Kolb choked her. The two then strangled her with a belt.

A third teen named Nathan Gaudet helped with dismemberment and burning at the Mercer County farm, and Gaudet was arrested together with Kolb and Gregory after Gregory led police to the girl's burned and dismembered body on a Mercer County farm and in Blackhawk State Historic Site.

Nathan Gaudet admitted to helping dismember and burn the body at the Mercer County farm, pleaded guilty to a juvenile count of concealing a homicide, and was serving an indeterminate sentence at the Illinois Youth Center in Harrisburg. Gaudet testified at both of Sarah Kolb's trials.

Sarah Kolb testified during her trial that Cory Gregory killed Adrianne Reynolds. Cory Gregory told Adrianne Reynolds' parents he was in the car at the time of her death, but did not kill her.

Investigation

Prosecutors said Cory Gregory led authorities to remains that might never have been found.

Cory Gregory led police to Adrianne Reynolds' burned and dismembered body on a Mercer County farm and in Blackhawk State Historic Site.

Arrest

Sarah Kolb, Cory Gregory, and Nathan Gaudet were arrested a few days after Cory Gregory led police to Adrianne Reynolds' burned and dismembered body on a Mercer County farm and in Blackhawk State Historic Site.

Trial

Cory Gregory pleaded guilty in April to murder and concealment of a homicide in the death of Adrianne Reynolds.

There was a long trial and retrial involving Cory Gregory's former girlfriend. Sarah Kolb was convicted of murder after the long trial and retrial.

Sentencing

Cory Gregory pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal reached with prosecutors. The maximum sentence allowed by the plea agreement was 45 years in prison.

Cory Gregory received the maximum sentence of 45 years in prison for killing, burning and dismembering 16-year-old Adrianne Reynolds.

Judge Walter Braud handed down the maximum sentence allowed by the plea agreement reached with prosecutors.

Before handing down the maximum sentence, Judge Walter Braud said one thing missing from the plea deal was "why and what actually happened to Adrianne." The Reynolds family did not expect that to ever be heard, but they did hear an apology.

Cory Gregory said:

"All I really want to do is apologize. It's all I really can do."
"If I could give my life to bring her back, I would."

After the hearing, Tony Reynolds said:

"I didn't want anybody to think just because he showed them where the body was that he'd done anyone a favor,"
"He put it there."

Tony Reynolds also said:

"I didn't want anybody to think just because he showed them where the body was that he'd done anyone a favor," he said.

Outside the sentencing hearing, prosecutors and lawyers discussed whether Cory Gregory would serve the first-degree murder sentence within a range tied to the plea agreement, and additional credit for time served on the concealment charge was addressed.

It was stated that Cory Gregory would serve all of the 40 years for the murder charge, would get no credit for good behavior, and would get credit for time served on the concealment charge.

Cory Gregory's attorney did not expect an appeal to be filed.

On the other side of the courtroom on Monday was Cory Gregory's mother, Theresa Gregory, who wept when her son's future was handed down. Theresa Gregory said:

"I love my son Cory very much and I hope that some day the Reynolds family can find peace and forgiveness," she said.

Judge Walter Braud's comments at sentencing were:

"why and what actually happened to Adrianne."

Cory Gregory's sentencing was scheduled and described in two separate reports as July 10, 2006 and July 11, 2006, and it was described as "Sentenced to 45 years in prison on July 13, 2006."

Appeals

Outcome

Cory Gregory was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Sarah Kolb was still to be sentenced. Sarah Kolb was to be sentenced Aug. 18 and faced up to 60 years in prison.

Other details

Rock Island County State's Attorney Jeff Terronez said Cory Gregory led authorities to remains that might never have been found and agreed to meet with Reynolds' family and explain his role in the slaying.

Terms of the April 27 plea agreement included:

• Gregory to plead guilty to a single count of first degree murder.
• Sentence on the murder charge would be between 20 and 40 years.
• Murder sentence would consectutively to sentence for concealing a homicide.
• Gregory would meet with Ms. Reynolds parents to explain his role in murder.
• A second count of first degree murder would be dropped.
• Mercer County would not file dismemberment of a body charges against Gregory.

Defense attorney Steve Hanna read a letter from Mike McCollum, in which he called Cory Gregory an "unwilling accomplice" with Sarah Kolb. The letter also stated that after visiting with his pastor, Mike McCollum found the Lord was working in him.

Mike McCollum said:

"They never would have found her body,"
"They'd still be looking for her."

Tony Reynolds said:

"Doesn't feel like I won anything for sure,?"