A Canadian man who prosecutors say crossed the border, stalked and killed a Westmont woman he met online, pleaded not guilty in court Monday.
Dmitry Smirnov, 20, from Surrey, British Columbia, faces first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of 36-year-old Jitka Vesel last month in Oak Brook.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Assistant State's Attorney David Bayer is seeking a sentence of natural life or 100 years in prison for the shooting in the parking lot outside the Czech Society of America. Vesel worked as Czech translator.
The two reportedly met on an online dating site before Smirnov moved to Illinois. The two had a brief relationship that ended three years ago when Vesel met another man.
Prosecutors say Smirnov did research on Illinois' death penalty before committing the crime. He allegedly bought the gun in Seattle, traveled to Illinois and tracked Vesel by putting a GPS tracking device on her car.
Smirnov is being held without bond in the DuPage County Jail.
