Man charged in murder of CTA bus driver nearly 30 years ago
BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Criminal Courts Reporterrhussain@suntimes.com January 25, 2011 3:58PM
Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM
Anthony Kemp has been in and out of prison for most of his adult life.
But the Harvey man’s quickest turnaround came Monday when he was picked up for a nearly three- decade-old murder as he was exiting a downstate prison where he had just finished a one-year sentence on a drug conviction.
Authorities credited new DNA testing linking Kemp to Hosey Reynolds’ fatal stabbing as well as a 2008 Department of Justice grant that they said was instrumental in helping detectives solve the cold case.
When Reynolds, a 37-year-old CTA bus driver, was murdered during a home invasion at his South Side apartment in 1983, extensive DNA testing wasn’t available. However, investigators did save a black leather glove from the crime scene and a bloody T-shirt from Reynolds’ car.
Through the federal grant investigators were able send the clothing to the Illinois State Crime Lab for testing in 2009, Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Anne Dwyer said.
That same year, a witness also stepped forward and there was a “hit” in a DNA database tying Kemp, 45, to the murder, Dwyer said.
This past summer, investigators secured a warrant to pull Kemp from the Centralia Correctional Center and bring him back to Area 4 where he was given a buccal swab to verify his DNA, Dwyer said. And recently, those results came back, allowing officers to re-arrest Kemp Monday as he walked out of prison, after serving time on a possession of a controlled substance conviction.
According to court filings, between Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, 1983, Kemp, went to Reynolds’ residence, fatally stabbed him in the kitchen and took his stereo, speakers, record player and 1983 Toyota Celica.
Kemp then allegedly abandoned the stolen car after he crashed into a light pole a block away from Reynolds’ building, in the 8100 block of South Maryland. Inside the vehicle was the T-shirt that was drenched with the blood of Kemp and Reynolds, prosecutors said.
Reynolds suffered slash wounds to his left hand and multiple stab wounds to his chest, neck and lower back, according to court filings.
Prosecutors said Kemp was interviewed and denied knowing Reynolds or being in the apartment at the time of the murder.
Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered the graying, pony-tailed Kemp held without bond Tuesday.
Kemp, who has a lengthy rap sheet, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a rape in 1990. In 1996, he was sentenced to 20 years for another rape. He didn’t serve a full sentence in either case.
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