The two former employees of elite universities charged in the fatal stabbing of a 26-year-old hair stylist talked for months about their ‘sexual fantasies’ of murdering someone and then killing each other before the gruesome slaying, police said.
Fired Northwestern University professor Wyndham Lathem, 43, and Oxford University financial officer Andrew Warren, 56, appeared in Cook County court in Chicago on Sunday.
The two men were ordered held without bond after prosecutors explained the events leading up to the horrifying murder of Lathem’s boyfriend, Trenton James Cornell-Duranleau, 26.
Prosecutors said Lathem and Warren met in on online chat room where they talked about their sexual fantasies, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Fired Northwestern University professor Wyndham Lathem, 43, (left) and Oxford University financial officer Andrew Warren, 56, (right) appeared in Cook County court in Chicago on Sunday for charges in the killing of a 26-year-old hair stylist. Prosecutors said they had talked about their ‘sexual fantasies’ of killing someone months before the gruesome murder
Hair stylist Trenton James Cornell-Duranleau, 26, (pictured) was found stabbed to death by police on July 27. The Michigan native had been in Lathem’s high-rise Chicago condo for the last month
In a press conference before the hearing Sunday, Area Central Commander Brendan Deenihan said the motive for the killing wasn’t a ‘type of falling-out’ like police had thought before.
‘What I can tell you is it was not domestic in nature, like a husband-wife or boyfriend-boyfriend or a love triangle. That was not the motive. It was a little more dark and disturbing, as far as I’m concerned.’
Cornell-Duranleau, a Michigan native who had been living last month in Lathem’s high-rise Chicago condo, was found by police having suffered 47 stab wounds, as well as ‘mutilations,’ to his upper body, according to Chicago police.
The stab wounds were located on his back, chest, shoulder and abdomen, with additional cuts on his arms, chin, neck, hands and wrists.
Authorities said the attack was so violent the blade of the knife they believe was used was broken.
Prosecutors said Cornell-Duranleau’s last words were: ‘Wyndham, what are you doing?’ as the two men stabbed him to death.
Prosecutors said Cornell-Duranleau’s last words were: ‘Wyndham, what are you doing?’ as Lathem and Warren stabbed him to death. He suffered 47 stab wounds, as well as ‘mutilations,’ to his upper body, according to Chicago police
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson (center) speaks about the charges against Warren and Lathem during a news conference at the Chicago Police Department headquarters on Sunday before the hearing
In a press conference before the hearing Sunday, Area Central Commander Brendan Deenihan (left) said the motive for the killing wasn’t a ‘type of falling-out’ like police had thought before
A source told the Chicago Sun Times: ‘The victim was savagely killed. The crime scene was covered in blood. The body was mutilated. His genitals were cut, mutilated.’
Police found Cornell-Duranleau’s body around 8.30pm on July 27 after the building’s front desk received an anonymous call that a crime had occurred on the 10th floor.
He was discovered laying in his underwear partly lying against a bedroom door. He had been dead more than 12 hours. By then, authorities said Lathem and Warren had fled the city.
According to autopsy results released Friday by the Cook County medical examiner’s office, Cornell-Duranleau had methamphetamine in his system at the time of his death.
Lathem and Cornell-Duranleau, who moved to Chicago from the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area about a year ago, were dating, NBC Chicago reported.
Warren arrived in Chicago on his first trip to the US three days before the killing, after being reported missing in Great Britain. He left his home on July 24 to fly to the US without telling his family or long-term boyfriend.
According to prosecutors, Lathem paid for Warren’s travel and booked a hotel for him to stay in Chicago.
Chicago police escorted fired Northwestern University professor Wyndham Lathem (left), 43, and Oxford University financial officer Andrew Warren (right), 56. They arrived in Chicago early Saturday morning to face charges of first-degree murder in killing of a 26-year-old hair stylist
Warren was suspended from his payroll job at Somerville College, which is a part of the Oxford system.
Lathem, a microbiologist who’s been on Northwestern’s faculty since 2007 but was not teaching at the time of the attack, was terminated by the university for fleeing from police when there was an arrest warrant out for him.
He had been refused clearance by French authorities to work at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The Paris institute, which studies the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, had approved Lathem’s application to work there but it was later revoked when the French government rejected his working clearance.
The institute’s spokeswoman Aurelie Perthuison said in a statement that the French government would not divulge the reason behind Lathem’s rejected security clearance.
Lathem had reportedly already begun making arrangements to move his Chicago-based microbiology lab to Paris.
Police said Lathem (pictured on Saturday) and Cornell-Duranleau, who moved to Chicago from the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area about a year ago, were in a relationship
Chicago police said Cornell-Duranleau suffered 47 stab wounds, including ‘mutilations,’ to his upper body. The stab wounds were located on his back, chest, shoulder and abdomen. Warren is pictured arriving in Chicago early Saturday morning
Investigators said the day after the crime was committed Lathem and Warren drove about 80 miles northwest of Chicago to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
One of the men made a $1,000 donation to a local library in Cornell-Duranleau’s name. Lake Geneva authorities said the man making the donation didn’t give his name.
At another point after the killing, Lathem sent a video to friends and relatives apologizing for his involvement in the crime, which he called the ‘biggest mistake of my life’.
The video raised concern among investigators that Lathem might kill himself.
After the brutal killing, one of the men made a $1,000 donation to a local library in Cornell-Duranleau’s name. Lake Geneva authorities said the man making the donation didn’t give his name. Lathem (left) and Warren (right)
They found Cornell-Duranleau’s body on July 27 after the building’s front desk received an anonymous call that a crime had occurred on the 10th floor (pictured)
Cornell-Duranleau and Lathem were friends on Facebook, although it’s not clear when and how the two had first crossed paths.
His mother, Charlotte Cornell, released a statement last week saying the family does not know Warren or Lathem.
‘Our Family is deeply saddened by the death of our son. It is our hope that the person or persons responsible for his death are brought to justice,’ Cornell’s statement said.
Both Lathem and Warren surrendered to authorities in California on August 4. Lathem surrendered in Oakland and Warren in San Francisco.
Lathem and Warren both appeared in court in California last week, where they agreed to return to Illinois to face charges.
An attorney for Lathem, Kenneth H. Wine, called him a ‘gentle soul’ and said ‘what he is accused of is totally contrary to the way he has lived his entire life’. Wine said Lathem intends to plead not guilty to the charges.
Warren was represented by a public defender during a brief appearance in a San Francisco court. She said he is ‘presumed innocent,’ but declined to comment further.