Crime & Safety

Three Teens Charged in Murder of Wheaton Man

Two West Chicago teens and an Aurora teen are scheduled to appear in bond court Wednesday morning.

Three teenagers have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 22-year-old Wheaton man, DuPage County and West Chicago officials announce Tuesday evening.


Jonathan Jimenez, 19, of Aurora, Alejandro Martinez, 17, of West Chicago, and Anthony Rios, 18, also of West Chicago, have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Thomas Tecuatl, 22, of Wheaton, according to a joint release issued by DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and West Chicago Police Chief Laz Perez.


The three are scheduled to appear in bond court at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, in Courtroom 2002 of the DuPage County Courthouse, 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, according to the release.

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Authorities were releasing no additional details late Tuesday, but the charges come just a day after Patch reported that West Chicago police were investigating the death of a 22-year-old man whose body was found early Sunday morning, Nov. 17, 2013, in the front yard of a home on the 600 block of Neltnor Boulevard (Route 59).


Police responding to the 6:45 a.m. report of an unresponsive person in the front yard found the man dead at the scene. Authorities said Monday the incident was isolated and not believed to be a threat to public safety, the DuPage County Major Crimes Task Force and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office were assisting West Chicago police in the investigation.

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The Daily Herald, citing an unnamed law enforcement source, was reporting late Tuesday that Tecuatl was beaten and stabbed repeatedly, and that the teenagers were taken into custody later Sunday.


Authorities believe the three teenagers are gang members, and that the killing occurred after they argued with the victim at a heavily attended birthday party in West Chicago, the source told the Daily Herald, which said the argument with Tecuatl occurred late Saturday or early Sunday,


Tecuatl threatened the three teens with a knife, the source told the the Daily Herald, and that the teens responded by went around the house, gathering a pick ax and some other tools, then chased him into the street where he was killed.


Related:


  • Additional details about the charges filed Tuesday can be found in the Daily Herald.


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