Hanover Park Man Pleads Guilty to 2002 Bensenville Murder

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett announced that Mario Daniel Castillo, 22 (d.o.b. 1/22/82), of 455 Morton in Hanover Park pleaded guilty today to Second Degree Murder in connection with the September 2002 homicide of Jesus Ramirez of Grove Street in Bensenville.   The murder involved a controversy between two rival gangs.  Pursuant to agreement, the charges of First Degree Murder were reduced to Second Degree Murder, the defendant pleaded guilty, and Judge Perry Thompson sentenced him to fifteen (15) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. 

At approximately 3:00 a.m. on September 8, 2002, Castillo went to the corner of Roosevelt and Hamilton in Bensenville, a location where rival gang members are known to frequent.  Words were exchanged between the defendant and the victim, and a fight ensued.  During the course of the fight, Castillo plunged a steak knife into the victim’s chest.  A party going on nearby emptied out into the street and several persons chased the defendant, who fled on foot. 

The Bensenville Police were contacted and arrived on the scene within minutes.  The victim was taken to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.  The defendant’s whereabouts were unknown for approximately 12 hours.  The Major Crimes Task Force was activated along with attorneys of the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Gang Unit.  While the defendant’s whereabouts were still unknown, Judge Blanche Fawell approved a complaint and warrant for Aggravated Battery with a $1 million bond.  The defendant was eventually located and taken into custody.  Charges were later elevated to First Degree Murder. 

“Justice has been served today for Jesus Ramirez and his family,” commented State’s Attorney Birkett.  “However, in the world of gang warfare, no one wins.  In this case, a man lost his life, a family lost a loved one, and this defendant has lost his liberty.”

State’s Attorney Birkett thanked the Bensenville Police Department under the direction of Chief Frank Kosman, along with the men and women of the DuPage County Major Crime Task Force for their outstanding efforts in the investigation of this case.  In addition, he thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Paul Marchese and Steve Knight for assisting in the investigation and Assistant State’s Attorneys Alex McGimpsey and Kevin Halverson for their outstanding work in the prosecution of this case.