Crime Junkie

INTRODUCING: CounterClock Season 8

Case: Tinley Park, Illinois – February 2008
28 May 2026 3 min read 45m
TL;DR

In February 2008, five women were executed during a hostage situation at a Lane Bryant clothing store in Tinley Park, Illinois, with only one survivor. Investigative journalist Delia D'Ambra examines thousands of documents and firsthand accounts to reconstruct what happened and identify who may have been responsible—a case that has left families without answers for nearly two decades.

Key Moments
Delia D'Ambra
“In February 2008, six women were held hostage in a women's clothing store in Tinley Park, Illinois, and five of them were executed.”
Opening statement establishing the scale and severity of the crime
Delia D'Ambra
“For nearly twenty years, their families have lived without answers.”
Highlighting the long-standing impact and unresolved nature of the case
Delia D'Ambra
“Through firsthand accounts and thousands of documents, I'm going to reconstruct what happened inside the store, why it may have happened, and who may have been responsible.”
Outlining the investigative approach and scope of the season
Delia D'Ambra
“The killer escaped leaving only one survivor.”
Establishing that the perpetrator remains at large and one witness is alive
Delia D'Ambra
“This season, the search continues.”
Concluding the season introduction with the ongoing investigation
About Crime Junkie
›
Crime Junkie is a true crime podcast that dives deep into unsolved and mysterious cases through investigative journalism and first-hand accounts. Hosted by investigative journalists, the show reconstructs crimes and explores the evidence, suspects, and theories behind them. CounterClock is Crime Junkie's seasonal spin-off series that focuses intensively on single cases over multiple episodes.
Takeaways
1
Five women murdered, killer still unknown The Lane Bryant murders represent one of Illinois' most brutal unsolved crimes. Five women—Rhoda McFarland, Carrie Hudek Chiuso, Connie Woolfolk, Sarah Szafranski, and Jennifer Bishop—were executed during a single hostage situation at a clothing store in 2008, yet the perpetrator has evaded capture for nearly two decades.
2
One survivor remains key witness The sole survivor of the Lane Bryant attack is potentially the only direct witness to the entire sequence of events and the killer's identity. This survivor's account will be critical to Delia D'Ambra's investigation and may hold answers that have eluded law enforcement for years.
3
Thousands of documents reveal deeper truth Delia D'Ambra's investigation draws on thousands of documents and records to go deeper than previous journalism. This documentary depth may uncover connections, timelines, or leads that were overlooked or underexplored in the original investigation.