Episode 124 The Langert Family Murders
In 1990, life for Nancy Bishop-Langert and her husband Richard Langert was good. Three years after getting married, they were expecting their first child, and they were overjoyed. The popular, and well-liked couple was looking forward to raising their child in the quiet and safe city of Winnetka, Illinois. Sadly though, that would never happen.
On April 7, 1990, a 16 year old teenager named David Biro, broke into the Langert townhome intent on harming someone. In cold blood, he executed Richard in front of Nancy. Despite her begging for the life of her unborn child to be spared, the young killer shot her twice killing her baby instantly. With her last ounce of life, Nancy crawled over to her husband so that she could die necxt to him. Using her finger and her own blood, she drew a heart and a U as a dying message to her beloved husband. The next day, Nancy's father Lee made the shocking discovery of the Langert's bodies; something that stuck with him for years until the day he died.
The murders shocked the community of 12,000 people. For 6 months, residents wondered who would ruthlessly murder the couple and their unborn baby. Then a tip from one of David's friends led to 16 year old David Biro's arrest. When his background was looked into, what was found was disturbing. Biro had tried to poison his family and been sent for treatment, but against the advice of doctors, his family removed him and brought him home, leaving him free to murder the Langerts.
Biro was sentenced as an adult to life in prison without parole, but due to a supreme court decision, that sentence faced a risk of being overturned. Today after over three decades since the murders, Nancy's sisters Jennifer and Jeanne seem to find themselves at odds in regards to the fate of the killer. Jennifer is trying to honor her father Lee's dying wish of keeping Biro in prison, but Jeanne wants to see him get a second chance.
Jennifer discusses the case in this episode, and how it affected the family and the community, and how she continues to try and keep her sister's killer behind bars. She also discusses some of the work she does to help others in similar situations alongside her husband Bill Jenkins who was the guest in our last episode.
Jennifer has supplied the following links that she feels will be helpful and pertinent in connection with this episode:
1. Jennifer forgot to mention this group in the episode but stresses it is the most important group NOVJM - NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF VICTIMS OF JUVENILE MURDERERS that is a resource for victims families if the killer was a teen. Jennifer co-founded this organization and is its President.
Their Facebook group for victims families to chat and post with each other in a closed group Jennifer would like to invite loved ones of those killed by a teen to join this Facebook group
2. The wonderful national victims rights movement to put enforceable victims rights into states (and hopefully ultimately the US) Constitutions. Jennifer is the Illinois state director.
3. For years, Jennifer served as National Program Director For Victims and Survivors of Gun Violence.
4. This Is Jennifer's husband Bill's book's site: What To Do When The Police Leave: A Guide To The First Days of Traumatic Loss
5. Murder Victims Families for Human Rights - victims families opposed to the death penalty.