CHICAGO (AP) - The Cook County state's attorney says a convicted murder released by mistake after a Chicago court appearance did not even need to be brought before the court.

Anita Alvarez told reporters Friday that drug and armed violence charges against Steven Robbins in Cook County were dismissed in 2007.

Alvarez said her office informed Cook County Sheriff's Police several days ago that they didn't need to bring Robbins to Illinois. He was at an Indiana prison where he was serving a 60-year murder sentence.

Still, he was brought to Illinois and a judge made it clear Wednesday that there was no pending case against Robbins.

But instead of being sent back to Indiana, Robbins was released from Cook County Jail that night.

The Sheriff's Office says it is investigating.

--

CHICAGO (AP) - A prisoner mistakenly released from a Chicago jail was convicted in the 2002 murder of a man outside a birthday party in Indianapolis.

According to court records, the victim had intervened in an argument between Steven Robbins and Robbins' wife. Three witnesses to the killing told police at the time that Robbins then retrieved a gun from a car and shot the man in the chest.

Robbins was convicted and began serving a 60-year sentence at an Indiana prison in 2004.

On Tuesday, the Gary, Ind., native was taken to Chicago for a court appearance on separate drug charges, which were dropped.

Indiana Department of Corrections officials say for still unknown reasons Robbins was then released by Illinois authorities on Wednesday without being held for return to prison in Indiana.
Copyright © 2013 Associated Press

--