Another weirdness update
Update number 1--The death of the person found near my house appears to have been self-inflicted. This was from a story in the printed Chronicle, which also has reverted to being the full-on Kane County Chronicle, not the Batavia KCC as it has been for about a year or two. Good; I like hearing stories from all the Tri-Cities, not just my own. We're a unit and should be treated as such.
Update number 2--The crime scene tape came down along Joliet Street, and there appeared to be no unusual vehicles on the properties. And...arrests have been made. I'm cutting the articles because I have several of them, they're not short...and the details are pretty heinous.
From WGN:
3 teens charged after body found burning in West Chicago
POSTED 12:24 PM, AUGUST 16, 2018, BY MELISSA ESPANA AND TOM NEGOVAN, UPDATED AT 04:38PM, AUGUST 16, 2018
WEST CHICAGO, Ill. -- A 16-year-old and two 18-year-olds have been charged in connection to the murder of a man whose body was found burning in West Chicago on Tuesday.
Authorities said Tia Brewer, 16, and Francisco Alvarado, 18, stabbed Luis Guerrero, 18, set him on fire and ran over him with a car. Brewer and Alvarado were charged with first-degree murder. Brewer has been charged as an adult.
A third man, Jesus Correa, 18, was charged with concealment of a homicide in connection with Guerrero’s death.
Police said Guerrero's body was found in a field in the 1300 block of Joliet Street around noon Tuesday. The chief of police said fire fighters noticed some smoke while they were doing their training around noon. They went to investigate and that's when they found the body smoldering.
The DuPage County State's Attorney said at some point on Tuesday, Alvarado and Brewer arranged to meet Guerrero near the West Chicago Public Library. Officials said when they met, Alvarado approached Guerrero from behind and strangled him with a belt. Officials said at the same time, Alvarado and Brewer stabbed Guerrero multiple times in the neck. Officials said the two then put Guerrero into their Jeep Cherokee, traveled to a location on Joliet Street and took him out of the car.
Officials said the pair then contacted Correa and asked him to bring gasoline. Officials said when Correa arrived, he gave the two the gas and left the scene. Officials said they then poured gas on Guerrero's body and lit him on fire.
While he was on fire, officials said Guerrero got up and started to run away, that's when Alvarado and Brewer ran him over with their car. Officials said the two then dragged Guerrero back to the fire pit, relit him on fire and placed a picnic table over him.
Officials said they found Brewer and Alvarado in a Chicago hotel. Officials said they were planning on fleeing the area, according to the Chicago Tribune.
All three are due in court on Sept. 13.
From the Chicago Tribune:
Man killed in West Chicago was stabbed, set on fire, run over; 3 teens charged in 'heinous' attack, authorities say
Clifford Ward
Chicago Tribune
A teenage couple are accused of first-degree murder after authorities allege they strangled and stabbed the girl’s former boyfriend and set him on fire before running him over with a Jeep.
Tia Brewer, 16, who lives near Wheaton, and Francisco Alvarado, 18, of West Chicago, were ordered held without bond in the killing of Luis Guerrero, 18, of West Chicago, whose smoldering body was found Tuesday in an outdoor fire pit not far from Alvarado’s residence, authorities say.
A third man, Jesus Jurado Correa, 18, described as a friend of Alvarado, was charged with concealment of a homicide. Correa, at Alvarado’s request, bought the gasoline used to ignite the victim, DuPage County Assistant State’s Attorney Tim Diamond said.
Brewer and Alvarado also face charges of armed robbery and concealment of a homicide.
“The facts alleged in this case are brutal and heinous and evidence of an unconscionable degree of depravity,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said at a news conference following the bond court hearings.
Brewer had previously dated Guerrero, and had told Alvarado that Guerrero had raped her, according to Berlin. But the prosecutor said authorities have not found any indication Brewer ever reported such an assault to authorities.
Alvarado and Brewer lured Guerrero by arranging to meet him after midnight Tuesday near the West Chicago Public Library, officials said. Alvarado approached the victim from behind and strangled him with a belt, and he and Brewer then stabbed Guerrero more than a dozen times in the neck, authorities allege.
The pair then drove Guerrero to Joliet Street in West Chicago and called Correa to bring gasoline, officials said, adding that Correa, who was at a movie with his girlfriend, stopped at a gas station and filled a water bottle with fuel, Diamond said, which he brought to Joliet Street and then left.
The gas was poured over Guerrero and was ignited, but Guerrero “got up and began running around,” Diamond said. Alvarado and Brewer then got into the Jeep and ran over Guerrero before dumping his body again in the fire pit and relighting it on fire, authorities said, adding that police found blood on the Jeep’s undercarriage.
Around noon Tuesday, West Chicago firefighters conducting a training exercise in the area found Guerrero’s smoldering remains, Diamond said. A picnic table had been placed over the body, the prosecutor said.
During the investigation, Alvarado’s parents, who live nearby, approached police at the scene and alerted them to blood stains in their Jeep, officials said.
The investigation led to Correa, who authorities said confessed to his role, which included taking Brewer and Alvarado to the train station. The couple were arrested Wednesday at a motel in Chicago, and police found Guerrero’s backpack among their possessions, along with a knife and a screwdriver believed to have been used in the attack, prosecutors said.
All three of the accused will be back in court Sept. 13. Alvarado and Brewer could face life in prison if convicted on the most serious charges, Berlin said.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
From NBC:
Suburban Teens Charged in Gruesome Murder of Fellow Teen After Body Found Stabbed and Burned
It's a case prosecutors said was filled with "vicious brutality... beyond imagination"
Published 5 hours ago
A burning dead body was found Tuesday in the city of West Chicago, officials said. Regina Waldroup reports. (Published Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018)
WARNING: Details in this story may be disturbing for some readers
Two suburban teens were charged with murder Thursday, accused of killing of another teenager who was strangled and stabbed before being set on fire while still alive.
In a case prosecutors said was filled with "vicious brutality... beyond imagination," 18-year-old Francisco Alvarado, of West Chicago, and 16-year-old Tia Brewer, of Wheaton, were both charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and concealment of a homicidal death in the killing of 18-year-old Luis Guerrero.
Brewer is in a relationship with Alvarado but used to date the man they allegedly killed, according to authorities. They added that Brewer said Guerrero had raped her, but didn’t say if that was their motivation.
Guerrero's burned body was found smoldering around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday by members of the West Chicago Fire Department during a training exercise. The body was found in the 1300 block of Joliet Street near some abandoned houses.
Authorities allege that Alvarado and Brewer arranged to meet Guerrero, who was previously in a relationship with Brewer, Monday night near the West Chicago Public Library to buy a phone. When Guererro arrived, Alvarado allegedly used a belt to strangle the teen before both he and Brewer stabbed him more than a dozen times in the neck, prosecutors and police said.
The pair then put Guerrero in their Jeep Cherokee and drove to the 1300 block of Joliet Street where they dumped his body. Once there, they called a friend, 18-year-old Jesus Jurado Correa, who was also charged with concealment of a homicidal death, and asked him to bring gasoline, prosecutors allege.
According to authorities, the group poured gasoline on Guerrero and lit him on fire. Officials believe that at one point after that, Guerrero got up and began to run away before Alvarado and Brewer ran him over with their car, took his body back to the initial location and set him on fire once again.
Police located the teens in a Chicago motel room, where they were found with some of Guerrero’s belongings and food packed as though they were planning to flee. According to authorities a backpack with blood on it was found in the room, containing a bloody knife and screw driver inside.
"I can't begin to imagine the pain that Mr. Guerrero must have endured as his life was brutally taken from him," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.
Both Alvarado and Brewer were denied bail Thursday. Correa's bail was set at $100,000.
Members of the DuPage County Major Task Force and state’s attorney were assisting with the investigation.
Attorney information for the teens was not immediately available. Their next court appearance is set for Sept. 13.
In completely unrelated news, there was more weirdness on the way to work. The main road leading to my job had an undeveloped portion on it, to where up until a few years ago, it was still wooded. First one parcel was developed into an assisted living facility...should we show it to grandma?...and then two parcels down, another section recently became a church. Today, the last wooded parcel was taken down. So many trees just bulldozed. What a shame. Wonder what's going in there? Then, a bit south of there, it was the first day of school. Not a big deal, except there were a ton of schoolkids at the corner, just waiting there. They should have been in class. That's odd--is there a gym class walking around or something? Then I noticed the firetruck pulling away from the front of the school, then an ambulance, and then when the light changed the fire commander's truck. While I sat at the light, I noticed tons of kids pouring back into the school. Uh...first day of school fire drill? Or did something nefarious happen? I can't find anything online, so it must not have been too bad. Still...strange things are happening.
Update number 2--The crime scene tape came down along Joliet Street, and there appeared to be no unusual vehicles on the properties. And...arrests have been made. I'm cutting the articles because I have several of them, they're not short...and the details are pretty heinous.
From WGN:
3 teens charged after body found burning in West Chicago
POSTED 12:24 PM, AUGUST 16, 2018, BY MELISSA ESPANA AND TOM NEGOVAN, UPDATED AT 04:38PM, AUGUST 16, 2018
WEST CHICAGO, Ill. -- A 16-year-old and two 18-year-olds have been charged in connection to the murder of a man whose body was found burning in West Chicago on Tuesday.
Authorities said Tia Brewer, 16, and Francisco Alvarado, 18, stabbed Luis Guerrero, 18, set him on fire and ran over him with a car. Brewer and Alvarado were charged with first-degree murder. Brewer has been charged as an adult.
A third man, Jesus Correa, 18, was charged with concealment of a homicide in connection with Guerrero’s death.
Police said Guerrero's body was found in a field in the 1300 block of Joliet Street around noon Tuesday. The chief of police said fire fighters noticed some smoke while they were doing their training around noon. They went to investigate and that's when they found the body smoldering.
The DuPage County State's Attorney said at some point on Tuesday, Alvarado and Brewer arranged to meet Guerrero near the West Chicago Public Library. Officials said when they met, Alvarado approached Guerrero from behind and strangled him with a belt. Officials said at the same time, Alvarado and Brewer stabbed Guerrero multiple times in the neck. Officials said the two then put Guerrero into their Jeep Cherokee, traveled to a location on Joliet Street and took him out of the car.
Officials said the pair then contacted Correa and asked him to bring gasoline. Officials said when Correa arrived, he gave the two the gas and left the scene. Officials said they then poured gas on Guerrero's body and lit him on fire.
While he was on fire, officials said Guerrero got up and started to run away, that's when Alvarado and Brewer ran him over with their car. Officials said the two then dragged Guerrero back to the fire pit, relit him on fire and placed a picnic table over him.
Officials said they found Brewer and Alvarado in a Chicago hotel. Officials said they were planning on fleeing the area, according to the Chicago Tribune.
All three are due in court on Sept. 13.
From the Chicago Tribune:
Man killed in West Chicago was stabbed, set on fire, run over; 3 teens charged in 'heinous' attack, authorities say
Clifford Ward
Chicago Tribune
A teenage couple are accused of first-degree murder after authorities allege they strangled and stabbed the girl’s former boyfriend and set him on fire before running him over with a Jeep.
Tia Brewer, 16, who lives near Wheaton, and Francisco Alvarado, 18, of West Chicago, were ordered held without bond in the killing of Luis Guerrero, 18, of West Chicago, whose smoldering body was found Tuesday in an outdoor fire pit not far from Alvarado’s residence, authorities say.
A third man, Jesus Jurado Correa, 18, described as a friend of Alvarado, was charged with concealment of a homicide. Correa, at Alvarado’s request, bought the gasoline used to ignite the victim, DuPage County Assistant State’s Attorney Tim Diamond said.
Brewer and Alvarado also face charges of armed robbery and concealment of a homicide.
“The facts alleged in this case are brutal and heinous and evidence of an unconscionable degree of depravity,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said at a news conference following the bond court hearings.
Brewer had previously dated Guerrero, and had told Alvarado that Guerrero had raped her, according to Berlin. But the prosecutor said authorities have not found any indication Brewer ever reported such an assault to authorities.
Alvarado and Brewer lured Guerrero by arranging to meet him after midnight Tuesday near the West Chicago Public Library, officials said. Alvarado approached the victim from behind and strangled him with a belt, and he and Brewer then stabbed Guerrero more than a dozen times in the neck, authorities allege.
The pair then drove Guerrero to Joliet Street in West Chicago and called Correa to bring gasoline, officials said, adding that Correa, who was at a movie with his girlfriend, stopped at a gas station and filled a water bottle with fuel, Diamond said, which he brought to Joliet Street and then left.
The gas was poured over Guerrero and was ignited, but Guerrero “got up and began running around,” Diamond said. Alvarado and Brewer then got into the Jeep and ran over Guerrero before dumping his body again in the fire pit and relighting it on fire, authorities said, adding that police found blood on the Jeep’s undercarriage.
Around noon Tuesday, West Chicago firefighters conducting a training exercise in the area found Guerrero’s smoldering remains, Diamond said. A picnic table had been placed over the body, the prosecutor said.
During the investigation, Alvarado’s parents, who live nearby, approached police at the scene and alerted them to blood stains in their Jeep, officials said.
The investigation led to Correa, who authorities said confessed to his role, which included taking Brewer and Alvarado to the train station. The couple were arrested Wednesday at a motel in Chicago, and police found Guerrero’s backpack among their possessions, along with a knife and a screwdriver believed to have been used in the attack, prosecutors said.
All three of the accused will be back in court Sept. 13. Alvarado and Brewer could face life in prison if convicted on the most serious charges, Berlin said.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
From NBC:
Suburban Teens Charged in Gruesome Murder of Fellow Teen After Body Found Stabbed and Burned
It's a case prosecutors said was filled with "vicious brutality... beyond imagination"
Published 5 hours ago
A burning dead body was found Tuesday in the city of West Chicago, officials said. Regina Waldroup reports. (Published Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018)
WARNING: Details in this story may be disturbing for some readers
Two suburban teens were charged with murder Thursday, accused of killing of another teenager who was strangled and stabbed before being set on fire while still alive.
In a case prosecutors said was filled with "vicious brutality... beyond imagination," 18-year-old Francisco Alvarado, of West Chicago, and 16-year-old Tia Brewer, of Wheaton, were both charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and concealment of a homicidal death in the killing of 18-year-old Luis Guerrero.
Brewer is in a relationship with Alvarado but used to date the man they allegedly killed, according to authorities. They added that Brewer said Guerrero had raped her, but didn’t say if that was their motivation.
Guerrero's burned body was found smoldering around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday by members of the West Chicago Fire Department during a training exercise. The body was found in the 1300 block of Joliet Street near some abandoned houses.
Authorities allege that Alvarado and Brewer arranged to meet Guerrero, who was previously in a relationship with Brewer, Monday night near the West Chicago Public Library to buy a phone. When Guererro arrived, Alvarado allegedly used a belt to strangle the teen before both he and Brewer stabbed him more than a dozen times in the neck, prosecutors and police said.
The pair then put Guerrero in their Jeep Cherokee and drove to the 1300 block of Joliet Street where they dumped his body. Once there, they called a friend, 18-year-old Jesus Jurado Correa, who was also charged with concealment of a homicidal death, and asked him to bring gasoline, prosecutors allege.
According to authorities, the group poured gasoline on Guerrero and lit him on fire. Officials believe that at one point after that, Guerrero got up and began to run away before Alvarado and Brewer ran him over with their car, took his body back to the initial location and set him on fire once again.
Police located the teens in a Chicago motel room, where they were found with some of Guerrero’s belongings and food packed as though they were planning to flee. According to authorities a backpack with blood on it was found in the room, containing a bloody knife and screw driver inside.
"I can't begin to imagine the pain that Mr. Guerrero must have endured as his life was brutally taken from him," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.
Both Alvarado and Brewer were denied bail Thursday. Correa's bail was set at $100,000.
Members of the DuPage County Major Task Force and state’s attorney were assisting with the investigation.
Attorney information for the teens was not immediately available. Their next court appearance is set for Sept. 13.
In completely unrelated news, there was more weirdness on the way to work. The main road leading to my job had an undeveloped portion on it, to where up until a few years ago, it was still wooded. First one parcel was developed into an assisted living facility...should we show it to grandma?...and then two parcels down, another section recently became a church. Today, the last wooded parcel was taken down. So many trees just bulldozed. What a shame. Wonder what's going in there? Then, a bit south of there, it was the first day of school. Not a big deal, except there were a ton of schoolkids at the corner, just waiting there. They should have been in class. That's odd--is there a gym class walking around or something? Then I noticed the firetruck pulling away from the front of the school, then an ambulance, and then when the light changed the fire commander's truck. While I sat at the light, I noticed tons of kids pouring back into the school. Uh...first day of school fire drill? Or did something nefarious happen? I can't find anything online, so it must not have been too bad. Still...strange things are happening.