For the second time in two weeks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has apprehended a DuPage County fugitive wanted in connection with a murder. DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett and Downers Grove Police Chief Robert Porter announced today that FBI officials contacted the Downers Grove Police Department yesterday and notified them that they had captured Joyel Joseph, 36 (d.o.b. 11/13/67) who was wanted in connection with a February 2001 murder of a 57 year old Downers Grove man. Joseph, whose last known address at the time of the 2001 murder was 6919 Prairieview in Woodridge, had been apprehended in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This morning, Joseph appeared in a Pennsylvania court where he waived extradition. Detectives of the Downers Grove Police Department brought Joseph back to Illinois to the Downers Grove Police Department, where he will be transported later to the DuPage County Jail in Wheaton. Joseph is expected to appear in bond court tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. in Wheaton.

On February 7, 2001, officers of the Downers Grove Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call to the 2000 block of Prentiss Drive in Downers Grove in reference to a possible homicide. When they arrived at the scene at the Autumn Grove Apartments, they found Xavier Malayil dead in the apartment with multiple stab wounds. Apparently Joseph and Malayil had been co-workers at Versatile Card Technology in Downers Grove.

The investigation led police to Joseph, and State’s Attorney Birkett approved charges of First Degree Murder against him on February 7, 2001. At that time, a no-bond warrant for his arrest was issued by a DuPage County judge. Downers Grove Police then alerted authorities in Illinois and throughout the U.S. to be on the lookout for him or his vehicle. The defendant’s vehicle was found two days later in Clarendon Hills, but the suspect remained at large. It was believed that he had fled the Chicago area soon after the murder. Approximately one week later, the FBI joined the search for Joseph, and a federal warrant was issued on charges of Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.

Yesterday, July 29, 2004, the warrant was served against Joseph and he was taken into custody in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The arrest was made as a result of the joint efforts of the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) and detectives of the Philadelphia Police Department, who were instrumental in locating the whereabouts of this defendant.

Members of the public are reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not proof of a defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.