Father is freed on bond in Dowaliby slaying

David Dowaliby, the Midlothian man charged along with his wife,Cynthia, in the murder of their 7-year-old daughter, Jaclyn, postedbond at 7:30 p.m. Friday and was released from Cook County Jail.

Dowaliby, 31, climbed into a black BMW with his lawyer andanother, unidentified personand was driven from the jail at 2800 S.California.

He had posted the required 10 percent of his $500,000 bond incash, jail officials said.

Initially, the couple had been held on $1 million bond aftertheir arrests Nov. 22, but the Illnois Appellate Court lowered thebonds to $800,000 for David Dowaliby and to $500,000 for his wife.

Cynthia Dowliby posted bond and was released from jail Thursdaynight, shortly after the couple's bond was reduced once again by theappelate court.

In an order signed by Thursday Justices William White and DanielMcNamara, David Dowaliby's bond was reduced a second time to$500,000, while Cynthia's was lowered to $100,000.

Prosecutors had argued that the couple should be held withoutbail because the crime was "exceptionally heinous and brutal."

But defense attorneys countered that the evidence in the casedid not support high bonds, and that prosecutors have released verylittle evidence against the Dowlibys.

The couple is accused of strangling their daughter and dumpingher body in Blue Island Sept. 10.

The couple has entered pleas of not guilty in the murder.

Jacyln was last seen alive the night of Sept. 9 and wasreported missing the next day, prosecutors said. They claim that,eight hours before she was reported missing, a witness saw DavidDowaliby driving away from a wooded area where her body was foundSept. 14.

Prosecutors also say that the rope found wrapped around Jacyln'sneck can be traced to the Dowaliby home.

The Dowalibys were jailed Nov. 22, when prosecutors charged themwith the crime.

Their son, David Jr., 4, remains in state care. A JuvenileCourt judge ruled Thursday that the boy should remain in statecustody at least until January.