SPRINGFIELD - The state's highest court has upheld the conviction of a 42-year-old confessed serial killer.

In a ruling issued Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court also reinstated the death sentence against Andrew Urdiales, who was convicted in 2004 of shooting and stabbing Cassie Corum. The body of the 21-year-old Hammond, Ind., woman was found by fishermen in the Vermilion River in July 1996.

Urdiales argued he should have been allowed to plead guilty but mentally ill when his case was pending in Livingston County. But, the Supreme Court found he had suffered no fundamental injustice during his trial.

"We find no error in the circuit court's ruling," wrote Justice Lloyd Karmeier in his opinion. "We find that the court's ruling was reasonable and entirely proper."

Urdiales earlier confessed to killing seven other women in Illinois and California between 1986 and 1995. In 2002, he was convicted of killing two women in Cook County and was sentenced to death row. His defense team in that case unsuccessfully argued his confession was negated by the fact that he was a deluded psychopath.

Urdiales was bounced from death row in connection with the two Cook County murder cases in 2003 when former Gov. George Ryan imposed a moratorium on all executions.

In its Friday ruling, the court also set a date for Urdiales' execution. But, Gov. Rod Blagojevich is continuing the moratorium, making it unclear when or if Urdiales will be put to death.

Justice Thomas Kilbride dissented from the majority decision, arguing that instructions given to the jury concerning Urdiales' state of mind may have fallen short. Because the case could result in an execution, Kilbride said the case should be sent back to the jury for further proceedings.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865.