Author: Paul Stukel

Two people are dead after a house exploded in the Fox Chase area of Oswego Thursday evening. Authorities suspect a natural gas leak was involved, but have not yet determined the exact cause of the explosion. Just after 5:00pm Thursday, the Oswego Fire Protection District was dispatched to the 200 block of Fox Chase Drive North, where they found a collapsed house completely engulfed in flames. Fire suppression and a search began immediately. Once the fire had been largely extinguished, a natural gas line continued to burn, which required a dig team from NICOR to clamp off the gas supply,…

The Oswego Police Department announced yesterday that criminal charges have been filed in connection with the murder of 41-year-old Oswego woman Monday afternoon. After consultation with the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office, 44-year-old male defendant has been charged with First Degree Murder (a Class M Felony); Home Invasion (a Class X Felony); Armed Violence (a Class X Felony); Residential Burglary (a Class 1 Felony); and Aggravated Stalking (Ca lass 3 Felony). Also yesterday, the Kendall County Coroner’s Office completed a forensic autopsy which indicated that the victim, 41-year-old Ashley A. Stewart of Oswego, sustained multiple sharp force injuries. The defendant…

A suspect has been apprehended in the killing of an Oswego woman in her own garage Tuesday afternoon. The suspect is believed to be the woman’s ex-husband. At approximately 1:10pm on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Oswego Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of Valentine Way after a caller reported that he believed his wife was in danger after observing, via home surveillance, a male subject run after his wife into their garage. The caller believed the male to be the wife’s ex-husband. Officers arrived on scene and located an unresponsive adult female. Oswego Fire…

A 39-year-old woman has been hospitalized in critical but stable condition after being shot outside a near east side residence in Aurora. According to police, at approximately 4:08am this morning Aurora Police officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 600 block of South LaSalle Street in Aurora. While enroute, officers were advised that a 39-year-old female had been shot outside a residence. Upon arriving, officers immediately rendered aid to the victim until Aurora Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene and assumed care. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries and was later transferred…

A 64-year-old Bartlett Public Works employee was tragically killed Monday morning when the snow plow he was operating was struck by a Metra train. According to police, at approximately 8:35am Monday, the employee was operating a small snow plow at the intersection of Oak Avenue and Railroad avenue when it was struck an Elgin-bound Metra passenger train. The Bartlett Police Department and Bartlett Fire Protection District immediately responded to the scene where they provided emergency medical care. The injured employee was subsequently transported to St. Alexius Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. No other people were injured in…

A 34-year-old Aurora man was sentenced today to 9 years in prison after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and crashing into an oncoming vehicle, killing a female driver. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that Joshua Crye of the 1800 block of Westfield Drive in Aurora has been sentenced to nine years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after a blind plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated DUI Causing Death, a Class 2 Felony. The State had asked for the maximum allowable sentence under the law of fourteen years. Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh…

The 27-year-old man killed in an officer-related shooting has been identified by the Kane County Coroner’s Office as Temesgen Welendreyas of Aurora, Illinois. Welendreyas’ body was transported to the Kane County Morgue Wednesday afternoon, where an autopsy was conducted on Friday. The preliminary cause of death is attributed to gunshot wounds. Toxicology samples have been collected and sent for further forensic analysis. The Kane County Coroner’s Office is collaborating with the Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force as it continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. An Aurora man who barricaded himself in his home and displayed a knife…

According to a release from the Aurora Police Department, the man shot by APD officers Wednesday afternoon has died from injuries sustained during the incident. He was 27 years old. No further information has been released about the man, and an autopsy will be performed at a later time to determine the exact cause of death. An Aurora man who barricaded himself in his home and displayed a knife when approached by police was shot and injured Wednesday afternoon in the 300 block of South Broadway. The incident began after Aurora police received a call at approximately 12:35pm for a…

An Aurora man who barricaded himself in his home and displayed a knife when approached by police was shot and injured Wednesday afternoon in the 300 block of South Broadway. The incident began after Aurora police received a call at approximately 12:35pm for a Person with a Weapon/Battery. Officers responded to the area and an adult male was barricaded and armed with a weapon. When responding officers encountered the male, he displayed a knife. Shots were fired by Aurora police officers and the male sustained at least one gunshot wound. Officers immediately rendered aid to the male until the Aurora…

An Aurora man is in custody after leading a variety of police departments in a high-speed chase in a stolen Kia. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury announced Wednesday that the 20-year-old subject has been charged with one count of Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (a Class 2 Felony); one count of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (a Class 3 Felony) and multiple Misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including Reckless Driving, Speeding 35+ MPH Over Limit and Improper Lane Usage. According to police, on Wednesday at approximately 12:35am, a West Chicago…