Author: Paul Stukel

[Editor’s Note: As a matter of policy, Fox Valley Magazine does not publish the name or likeness of suspects in criminal cases, based on the injustice of the accused, who remains innocent until convicted, being publicly smeared before being able to provide a proper defense. In this instance, the public’s awareness of the charges and circumstances thereof, including the identity of the accused, warrant an exemption from this policy. But the reader should be aware that the suspect has only been accused at this point. He remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.] The Kane County State’s…

After a nearly three-month investigation, the Oswego Police Department has determined that the cause of an accident that took the life of a 2-year-old boy and injured 14 others was “driver error.” The accident occurred on in late July when a car crashed through the front of Portillo’s restaurant on Route 34 in Oswego in the early afternoon. According to Oswego police, of the 14 individuals injured, including the driver, 8 were transported to nearby hospitals and 6 others were treated at the scene and released. During the investigation, the results of which were released yesterday, Oswego Police determined the…

A 26-year-old Aurora man has been found guilty of murder and attempted murder in a 2022 gang-related shooting in Aurora. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced that today a jury found Samuel Garcia guilty of first-degree murder (a class M felony) and attempt first-degree murder (a class X felony). On the afternoon of September 24, 2022, a white sedan pulled up to the 300 block of Center Avenue in Aurora and Garcia exited the passenger seat brandishing a silver revolver. Garcia confronted two men, yelled gang slogans, and fired the revolver at one of them, shooting him in his face…

A 45-year-old Addison man has been denied pre-trail release after being arrested for allegedly shooting at police from his home, injuring one. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Addison Chief of Police Roy Selvik announced yesterday that Judge Michael Burton granted the State’s motion to detain pre-trial an Addison man charged with one count of Attempt First Degree Murder (a Class X Felony), one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm at an Officer (a Class X Felony), one count of Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer (a Class X Felony) and one count of Unlawful Possession of a…

The St. Charles Business Alliance and the Events Committee are excited to announce actor Chris Witaske as the Grand Marshal for the 2025 St. Charles Electric Christmas Parade! The parade will take place in downtown St. Charles on Saturday, November 29th at 5:30pm. “I’m incredibly proud to be from St. Charles – it’s such a wonderful community that has given me so much support throughout the years,” said Witaske. “Although I now live in Los Angeles, St. Charles will always be home to me, and I’m truly honored to be part of this holiday tradition.” Witaske is a St. Charles native…

A 26-year-old Lake In The Hills man has been found guilty of murder in a 2020 road rage incident on Route 31 in Elgin. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced yesterday that a jury found Dru K. Jarvis guilty of First-Degree Murder, a Class M felony; Attempt First-Degree Murder, a Class X felony; and Armed Violence, a Class X felony. According prosecutors, early in the morning of August 22, 2020, Jarvis was a passenger in a white sedan traveling south on Route 31 in Elgin. Francisco Trujillo-Uscanga, 41, of Elgin, was also traveling south on Route 31 as…

The two individuals tragically killed in a two-car accident on I-88 Saturday evening have been identified. In a press release, the Kane County Coroner’s Office reported that the victims of the crash were Diego Nava Torres, 32 and Samantha Ortiz, 33, both from Chicago. The Coroner’s Office is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the individuals, specifically to determine their causes and manners of death. The crash occurred around 8:10pm Saturday, according to the Illinois State Police, in the westbound lanes of I-88 near Mitchel Road in North Aurora. Both individuals were transported to…

A 48-year-old Aurora man is in custody after allegedly stealing a cash register from an Oswego grocery store and subsequently fleeing from police Thursday afternoon. The suspect has been charged with burglary, theft, and resisting/obstructing a peace officer. According to police, at approximately 2:18pm Thursday, Oswego Police were dispatched to the Jewel Food Store in the 2500 block of Route 30 in Oswego, where it was reported that a man had removed a cash register from the store, broken it open in the store parking lot, and then fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. Officers located a…

A 19-year-old Kankakee man is in custody and has been charged with First Degree murder, among other charges, in connection with the stabbing incident in Oswego Wednesday. The Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged the suspect with eleven felony counts, including First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder, Concealment of Homicidal Death, Aggravated Battery, Armed Robbery, Armed Violence, Burglary. Authorities also identified the man killed in the attack as Tracey J. Land, a 52-year-old man from Bridgeview. Mr. Land was pronounced deceased at the scene. An autopsy was conducted by the Kendall County Coroner’s Office, and the preliminary investigation…

One person is dead and two others in hospital after a freight train collided with a landscaping truck this morning in Elgin. According to authorities, at approximately 6:30am this morning, the Elgin Police and Fire Department responded to a crash involving a Union Pacific train and a vehicle at the railroad crossing at State Street north of Locust Street. The adult passenger of the vehicle was pronounced deceased on scene, while two other adults were transported to an area hospital. Elgin police have announced that there will be temporary stop signs at the railroad crossing until the conclusion of the…