FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES FILED AGAINST AURORA MAN IN DEATH OF SIX MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER
WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that First Degree Murder charges have been filed against Joel Chavez, 25, (d.o.b. 2/6/1983) of 1038 Terrace Lake Drive, Aurora, in connection with the death of his six month-old daughter Julyssa. Julyssa passed January 13 at Loyola Hospital after succumbing to injuries about her head and body.
It is alleged that on January 12th, Chavez caused the fatal injuries to Julyssa by throwing and shaking her. An investigation led by the DuPage County Children’s Center with the assistance of the Aurora Police Department led to the charges against Chavez.
“What Mr. Chavez is accused of doing, taking the life of a defenseless infant, his own daughter, in such a violent manner is gut-wrenching,” commented Birkett. “If these allegations are proven true, Mr. Chavez will spend a majority, if not the rest of his life, behind bars for taking the life of his daughter Julyssa Chavez. I would like to thank the staff at the DuPage County Children’s Center, particularly Investigators Carmen Easton, Jerry Simandl and George Fencl for their work on this horrific case. Whenever a child is injured, abused or in the worst case, murdered, it is one of the most difficult and emotional cases we see in our office. I would also like to thank the Aurora Police Department for their assistance in the quick apprehension of Mr. Chavez.”
First Degree Murder carries a minimum sentence of 20-60 years or potentially life in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).
Chavez appeared in Bond Court this morning where Judge Brian Diamond set his bond at $2 million with 10% to apply.
Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are 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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