The Robert O'Dubaine Murder — Sibling Conspiracy in Chicago

The Case

The Robert O'Dubaine murder is a Chicago homicide case in which 31-year-old nightclub owner Robert W. O'Dubaine was killed by his girlfriend Catherine Suh and her brother Andrew Suh on September 25, 1993. What initially appeared to investigators as a random carjacking in the Bucktown neighborhood turned out to be a carefully orchestrated plot involving sibling conspirators. The case culminated in Catherine Suh's conviction for first-degree murder and armed robbery after a trial held in her absence when she fled before proceedings could begin.

The murder occurred in the garage of O'Dubaine's own two-flat home, where he was shot twice by Andrew Suh while Catherine lured him to the location. The subsequent investigation revealed a domestic conspiracy that shattered the initial theory of random street crime.

The Crime

On September 25, 1993, Robert O'Dubaine was murdered in the garage of his Bucktown home in Chicago. The killing was the result of a premeditated plan involving his girlfriend Catherine Suh and her brother Andrew Suh.

According to the investigation, Andrew Suh had positioned himself in the garage area, armed with a gun that had been hidden in the attic or garage. Catherine called Robert, luring him to the garage under false pretenses. When O'Dubaine entered, Andrew shot him twice. Robert was discovered blood-soaked at the scene with two gunshot wounds.

Following the shooting, Andrew took O'Dubaine's Jeep Wrangler and drove it to a nearby street where he abandoned it. The victim's wallet and keys were missing from the scene, creating the appearance of a robbery gone wrong. This staged element was designed to mislead investigators into believing the crime was a random act of violence rather than a targeted killing.

The calculated nature of the crime—from the hidden weapon to the carefully planned lure and the theft of personal items—demonstrated a level of premeditation that would later prove crucial in securing a conviction.

The Victim

Robert W. O'Dubaine was a 31-year-old entrepreneur who owned and operated bars and nightclubs in Chicago. He lived in a two-flat home in Bucktown, a neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side that was undergoing gentrification in the early 1990s.

At the time of his death, O'Dubaine was in a relationship with Catherine Suh. The relationship would prove fatal, as Catherine and her brother Andrew conspired to kill him in his own home.

O'Dubaine's death initially appeared to be the result of a carjacking or robbery, crimes that were not uncommon in urban Chicago during that era. However, the location of the killing—inside his own garage—and other evidence would eventually point investigators toward those closest to him.

Investigation

Chicago police initially treated O'Dubaine's death as a possible random carjacking. The missing Jeep Wrangler, wallet, and keys all suggested a robbery motive, and the abandoned vehicle found on a nearby street fit the pattern of opportunistic street crime.

However, as investigators dug deeper into the circumstances surrounding the murder, the focus shifted from random violence to a targeted domestic plot. The relationship between Robert O'Dubaine and Catherine Suh became a key area of inquiry, and evidence began to emerge connecting both Catherine and her brother Andrew to the killing.

The investigation revealed that Andrew had been the shooter, waiting in the garage with a weapon while Catherine orchestrated the victim's arrival at the scene. The combination of the missing personal items, the abandoned Jeep, and the reconstruction of the siblings' movements and communications provided investigators with strong evidence of a conspiracy.

Andrew Suh later provided accounts of the shooting that functioned as confession-like testimony, helping investigators understand the mechanics of the plot. The evidence showed that Catherine had played a central role in luring O'Dubaine to his death, while Andrew had carried out the actual shooting.

Trial and Verdict

Catherine Suh was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with Robert O'Dubaine's death. Her trial was scheduled to begin in April 1996, but Catherine failed to appear in court, prompting authorities to proceed with a trial in absentia.

Despite her absence, prosecutors presented compelling evidence of her role in the murder conspiracy. The case against her rested on the coordinated actions between her and her brother, the staged robbery elements, and the premeditated nature of the attack.

After approximately two hours of jury deliberation, Catherine Suh was found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery. She was sentenced to life in prison for her role in orchestrating her boyfriend's death.

The trial in absentia was unusual but legally permissible under Illinois law when a defendant voluntarily absents themselves from proceedings after being properly notified. The jury's swift deliberation suggested that the evidence against Catherine was substantial and convincing.

While the provided sources do not detail Andrew Suh's specific arrest timeline or trial outcome, his involvement as the shooter was established through the investigation and his own accounts of the events.

Media Coverage and Legacy

The case has attracted significant attention from true crime media over the decades since the murder. The sibling conspiracy element and the manipulative dynamics between Catherine and Andrew have made it a subject of particular interest for documentary producers and podcasters.

Oxygen's series Killer Siblings featured the case, examining how Catherine manipulated her brother Andrew into participating in the murder plot. The program explored the psychological dynamics between the siblings and the calculated nature of the crime.

Multiple true crime podcasts have covered the case, analyzing the evidence, the investigation's evolution from suspected carjacking to domestic conspiracy, and the unusual circumstance of Catherine's trial in absentia. Dateline NBC has also featured the case in its coverage of notable American homicides.

The case serves as a reminder that what initially appears to be random violence can mask carefully planned crimes carried out by those closest to the victim. The garage where Robert O'Dubaine was killed—a space that should have represented safety within his own home—became the scene of his betrayal and murder.

Today

The Robert O'Dubaine murder case remains solved, with Catherine Suh serving a life sentence for her conviction on first-degree murder and armed robbery charges. The case is considered closed by Chicago authorities.

The story continues to resonate in true crime circles as an example of domestic conspiracy and sibling involvement in homicide. The unusual elements of the case—the trial in absentia, the staged robbery, and the family dynamics that led to murder—ensure its place in Chicago's criminal history and in the broader landscape of American true crime.

For the O'Dubaine family, the loss of Robert at age 31 represented a tragic end to a young life, made even more painful by the involvement of those he had trusted. The case stands as a stark illustration of how interpersonal relationships can turn deadly when conspiracy and violence converge.