Author: Paul Stukel

West Chicago police are investigating the circumstances of a dead body found in a tent in the 100 block of East North Avenue Tuesday afternoon. According to police, at approximately 1:50pm on Tuesday officers responded to a wooded area near the 100 block of East North Avenue after a passerby located a dead person inside a tent. It appears this individual had been there for an extended period of time before being discovered. The DuPage County Coroner’s Office took possession of the body. At this time, there is no known danger to the community. Anyone with information is asked to…

Two official pronouncements from authorities in Aurora struck somewhat different tones amid increased federal immigration enforcement activities by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency this past week. After various demonstrations and altercations across Aurora Thursday and into Friday, first-term Democratic mayor John Laesch took a strong anti-enforcement position in a published statement Friday afternoon. “As your Mayor, I am here for you, and I want you know that you are not alone,” Mayor Laesch said. “The Mayor’s Office is actively working with elected officials at the local, state, and federal level to put together citizen-led patrols that bring…

A 61-year-old Naperville man has been found guilty of beating his wife to death in early 2020 after finding texts on her phone from another man. DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin announced today that Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh has found Alan Wang, formerly of the 1100 block of North Mill Street, guilty of one count of First Degree Murder following a four-day-long trial which concluded on September 12. Judge O’Hallaren Walsh found Wang guilty of one count of First Degree Murder. On March 11, 2020, Wang appeared at a bond hearing where bond was set at $850,000 with…

The Batavia Police Department is investigating a traffic crash that occurred on Tuesday that sent three people to the hospital, including one who remains receiving advanced medical treatment. According to police, at approximately 8:55pm Tuesday, the crash occurred at the intersection of North Randall Road and McKee Street. The incident involved a Chevrolet Trailblazer and a Dodge Ram. A preliminary investigation revealed that the Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by a 21-year-old female driver and carrying a 24-year-old male passenger, was heading northbound on North Randall Road and was attempting to turn westbound onto McKee Street when it was hit by the…

A 32-year-old Carpentersville man has been charged with multiple felonies after an incident in August that involved the man threatening police officers with a revolver in his home. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser and Carpentersville Chief of Police Todd Shaver announced today that the subject has been charged with Armed Violence, a Class X felony (4 counts); Possessing a Controlled Substance, a Class 4 felony; Aggravated Assault of a Peace Officer, a Class 4 felony (2 counts); Aggravated Assault Using a Firearm Against a Peace Officer, a Class 4 felony (2 counts); and Obstructing a Police Officer. According to prosecutors,…

A 49-year-old Aurora man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his brutal stabbing of a man in 2023. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced Friday that Duka M. Smith has agreed to a sentence of 25 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to the offense of Armed Violence, a Class X felony. Judge David Kliment accepted the plea. According to prosecutors, on November 12, 2023, Smith and the victim were at an apartment when they had a disagreement which turned physical, and Smith began stabbing the…

In May, a North Aurora police officer and a police intern pulled over 49-year-old Jorge Valerio Martinez for a routine license plate violation, which led to Martinez being detained on suspected DUI. Martinez died in custody a few hours later due to heart-related problems. After concluding an investigation of the incident, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced that her office will not pursue charges against the officers, stating that “the officers acted lawfully and appropriately under Illinois law and North Aurora Police Department official policy.” On May 2, 2025, a North Aurora officer and a police intern pulled…

Oktoberfest is coming to North Aurora! The Village of North Aurora’s first Oktoberfest will take place on Saturday, October 4, at North Aurora Riverfront Park, from 12pm until 10pm. All ages are welcome and the event is free and open to the public. There will be a large covered beer tent with seating (all ages), along with a smaller outdoor beer garden for 21+! This exciting event will feature German-style beers, food, Oktoberfest and fall activities and contests, live music and more. Check out the delicious food vendor line-up below and come hungry: Sausage Fest Savor the flavor at Sausage Fest! High-quality sausages…

A 23-year-old Montgomery man has agreed to a sentence of 16 years of in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to the offense of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, a Class X felony. Judge Julia Yetter accepted the plea. Prosecutors said that on September 1, 2024, the victim was driving through the drive-thru lane of a Dunkin’ located on the 2900 block of Kirk Road in Aurora when Martinez approached her car, holding an object that appeared to be a firearm. Martinez pointed the object at the victim and ordered her to get out of the vehicle, a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro.…

A Joliet man has pled guilty to participating in the drive-by shooting that killed two Boulder Hill women on Veteran’s Day, 2020. Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis announced that Jaquarance Handley of Joliet was sentenced to 35 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections earlier this month on the charge of First-Degree Murder. Handley entered his plea to First-Degree Murder and agreed to the 35-year prison sentence. The case was set for trial this month. Handley’s accomplice, James Brown Jr, had been sentenced to life in prison earlier this year after a jury convicted him of personally discharging an…