Eduardo Franco’s mother whispered a tearful prayer in Spanish before her 22-year-old son was sentenced Thursday to 22 years in prison for raping a woman on a Highland Park bike trail.
Franco’s mother, grandmother, uncle, 10-year-old brother and the mother of his 20-month-old baby girl all took the stand on his behalf, testifying to his character and the hardship his absence has caused. His mother and brother said Franco had seen violence in the home as a young boy and has never received counseling for what he witnessed.
“My brother’s like my role model,” said Franco’s brother, breaking down in tears. “I think of him like he is my best friend. He has always been there for me and my mom.”
Judge Christopher Stride told Franco, whom prosecutors dubbed the “Ravinia rapist,” that he was a “phenomenally blessed individual” to have his family stand by him. Franco pleaded guilty in May to raping a woman as she exited the Metra train at the Ravinia station in Highland Park after 1 a.m. on July 15, 2009.
The North Shore woman, then 32, had crossed the tracks and was attacked from behind when she was walking north on the Green Bay Trail, Assistant State’s Attorney Marc Bangser said.
