States Attorney
FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES
FILED AGAINST MAN IN DEATH OF
PIZZA DELIVERY WOMAN
WHEATON – DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett today and Sheriff John Zaruba announced today that First Degree Murder charges and one count of Armed Robbery have been filed against Bradley M. Justice, 29, (d.o.b. 10/31/1977), of Sandwich, IL, for the murder Karen Hassan, 41 (d.o.b. 4/21/1965) of St. Charles.
At approximately 8:37 p.m. Thursday evening, Hassan, an employee of a St. Charles restaurant left to deliver a pizza to a 3N 361 Powis Road in unincorporated West Chicago. After she failed to return from the delivery, the restaurant’s manager became concerned and contacted Hassan’s family to see if they had heard from her. The family member had not heard from Hassan and it was at this time that the restaurant manager and the family member filed a missing person report with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office. At approximately 1 a.m. Friday morning, responding Sheriff’s Deputies searched the area of Hassan’s delivery and found her body under a truck.
It is alleged that shortly after 8 p.m., Justice, borrowed a cellular phone from a neighboring business, called the restaurant where Hassan worked and placed an order for delivery. Once Hassan arrived with the order, it is alleged that she had an encounter with Justice who allegedly struck her repeatedly with a blunt object on and about her head resulting in her death. After his vicious attack, it is further alleged that Justice then dragged Hassan’s body away form her vehicle and concealed it
underneath a truck. It is also alleged that Justice robbed Hassan as well.
Justice was apprehended in a hotel in Tuscola, IL where he was staying after an acquaintance dropped him off. He was taken into custody without incident and was returned to the DuPage County Jail late last night.
“The murder of this woman is extremely disturbing,” commented State’s Attorney Birkett. “Here we have a woman, trying to make an honest living, who lost her life in a violent, vicious and senseless crime. Karen Hassan, like many devoted single mothers, was working long hours to provide for her family. The savage attack that resulted in her death is beyond comprehension. If convicted of this alleged murder, Justice may be eligible for the death penalty. I would like to thank the U.S. Marshall’s Office, DuPage County Sherriff John Zaruba and his staff, the DuPage County Coroner’s Office and the State’s Attorney’s Office, particularly Assistant State’s Attorneys Bob Berlin and William Wu who worked tirelessly the past 36 hours to solve this senseless, brutal slaying.”
Justice is currently being held in the DuPage County Jail and will appear in Bond Court tomorrow morning.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the 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.
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