Gregg Owen

On March 1, 1976, I was sitting for my Illinois bar exam. At that exact moment, two people were being stabbed to death in a Chicago apartment. Years later, I would prosecute the killer.

My name is Gregg Owen. Before the law, I toured as a rock musician. At the Criminal Courts Building — 26th and California, where working as a prosecutor meant you were considered among the best in Cook County — I tried 64 jury trials. 61 were murder cases. My record was 62 and 2.

In 1981, State’s Attorney Rich Daley appointed me the first Chief of Gang Prosecutions in Illinois history.

I found the double murder case buried in a courthouse that didn’t even hold murder trials. Everyone said it was unwinnable. My partner Mike Goggin and I took it anyway. We were going to give the victims a voice.

We won.

At 77, I’ve written the full account — Convergence, published September 2025 through 26th Street Books. 78 five-star Amazon reviews. 4.65 on Goodreads.

I’m not an academic. I was there for all of it. I’ll give your audience the real story.