Independent Detective Case File

Connie R Woolfolk

Homicide

Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA

Case Number #40
Date of Incident February 2, 2008
Age 54 Date of Birth: 08/04/1970
Type of Case Homicide
Case Entry February 6, 2026
Last Updated July 19, 2026
Overview


🔹 What happened — February 2, 2008

On the morning of February 2, 2008, a man posing as a delivery person entered the Lane Bryant women’s clothing store in the Brookside Marketplace in Tinley Park, Illinois (a Chicago suburb). He forced six women—two employees and four customers—into a back room at gunpoint. He tied their hands and then shot all six. Five women, including Jennifer Lynn “Jeni” Van Bishop, were killed execution-style; one woman survived by playing dead after a bullet grazed her neck.


This is a unique case that consisted of 5 people who tragically lost their lives in a multiple homicide that is still onging:

Other victims (and links to their pages):

Carrie Chiuso
Rhoda McFarland
Connie R Woolfolk
Sarah T Szafranski
Jennifer L Bishop

🔹 What happened — February 2, 2008

On the morning of February 2, 2008, a man entered the Lane Bryant women’s clothing store in the Brookside Marketplace in Tinley Park, Illinois (a Chicago suburb), posing as a delivery person. He forced six women — two employees and four customers — into a back room at gunpoint. He tied their hands and then shot all six. Five women, including Connie R. Woolfolk, were killed execution-style; one woman survived by playing dead after a bullet grazed her neck.

🔹 Connie R. Woolfolk

– Name: Connie R. Woolfolk, age 54, of Tinley Park, Illinois.
– She was one of the five women murdered in the Lane Bryant shooting.
– Connie was known by family and friends as a warm and caring individual who was actively involved in her local community.
– She was an employee at the Lane Bryant store and was working that day when the attack happened.
– Connie was deeply loved by her family and remembered for her kindness and strength.

🔹 The Crime

– The shooter tied up the victims, sexually assaulted them, and then shot them in the back of the head.
– He fled the scene before police arrived, and the case quickly became a major investigation in the Chicago area.
– The lone survivor helped police develop a description that was later turned into a composite sketch of the suspect.

🔹 Investigation and Status

– Despite thousands of tips and evidence collected, including the suspect’s voice recorded on a brief 911 call placed by one of the women inside the store, no suspect has ever been arrested.
– Investigators have released various sketches and 3D composite images of the suspect over the years in hopes of generating new leads.
– A reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest, and police continue to treat the case as active.
– The motive remains unclear, though police originally believed it began as an armed robbery that escalated into sexual assault and murder.

🔹 Legacy

Connie and the other four women — Carrie Chiuso, Rhoda McFarland, Sarah Szafranski, and Jennifer Bishop — are remembered annually by their communities, and the case remains one of the most notorious unsolved mass murders in the region.

🕵️‍♂️ Additional Info
There’s a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.
Authorities have released sketches and an audio snippet of the suspect’s voice from the original 911 call on the Tinley Park police website to help generate new leads.

——————————————-

Facebook Post:

Someone knows something.
It’s been 18 years since five women were murdered inside a suburban Lane Bryant store. The case remains unsolved.

The victims were Carrie Chiuso, Rhoda McFarland, Connie R. Woolfolk, Sarah T. Szafranski, and Jennifer L. Bishop.

Agency / ReferenceContact
Tinley Park Police Department Tip Hotline: (708) 444-5394
Email: lanebryant.tipline@tinleypark.org
DateEventDetails
February 2, 2008Gunman enters Lane BryantSuspect allegedly posed as a delivery driver before entering the Tinley Park store.
February 2, 2008Victims restrainedEmployees and customers were bound in the back room of the store.
February 2, 2008Mass shootingConnie R. Woolfolk and four other women were killed. One woman survived.
February 2, 2008911 call placedStore manager Rhoda McFarland called 911 before succumbing to her injuries.
February 2008Multi-agency investigation beginsTinley Park Police, FBI, Illinois State Police, and other agencies launch an extensive investigation.
2008–PresentEvidence continually reviewedDetectives analyze DNA, ballistics, fingerprints, witness statements, and forensic evidence as technology advances.
Following yearsUpdated suspect images releasedInvestigators issue revised suspect sketches based on the surviving victim’s account.
2026Investigation remains activePolice confirm the case has never been closed, continue reviewing leads, and maintain a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. (ABC7 Chicago)

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Map Location

Chicago, Illinois

On February 2, 2008

The marker represents an approximate location.

Lane Bryant women’s clothing store in the Brookside Marketplace in Tinley Park was closed and replaced with T.J. Maxx

Location disclaimer: This map may identify only the general city or surrounding area. It should not be interpreted as the exact location where the homicide occurred, where a person went missing, or where any other case event took place unless an exact location has been independently confirmed and entered.