Villa Park man charged with murdering girlfriend during domestic dispute: prosecutor – Shaw Local

A motion to deny pretrial release for a Villa Park man accused of murdering his 24-year-old girlfriend in his apartment after a domestic dispute was granted Friday, prosecutors said.

Anthony Jimenez, 25, of 1600 South Michigan Avenue, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, according to a press release from the DuPage County District Attorney’s Office.

On July 17, at around 10:50 a.m., Villa Park police responded to a domestic disturbance call at an apartment in the 1600 block of South Michigan Avenue. During the call, a man later identified as Jimenez allegedly told authorities that he had stabbed Jessica Reyes, the news release states.

Police arrived at the apartment and were met at the door by Jimenez, who had apparent blood on his hands and chest. Jimenez was handcuffed and arrested, authorities said.

Police searched the apartment and found Reyes bleeding on the floor in a back bedroom. They rendered her aid until paramedics arrived and took her to a local hospital. At around 11:26 a.m., Reyes was pronounced dead at the hospital, the news release said.

Jimenez and Reyes were reportedly in the apartment together and got into an argument around 8 a.m. Reyes left the apartment a short time later and climbed down the third-floor balcony to the parking lot because Jimenez wouldn’t let her leave and blocked the door, the news release said.

Jimenez allegedly went to the parking lot and spoke with Reyes. After the argument died down, Reyes and Jimenez returned to the apartment together. Reyes began gathering her belongings, but Jimenez pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed her in the side of the head, authorities said.

Reyes allegedly resisted and Jimenez allegedly stabbed her 12 times in the neck, face, arms, chest and hands. Only when his mother entered the room did Jimenez stop stabbing Reyes, authorities said.

“First and foremost, I want to express my sincere condolences to Jessica’s family and friends for their loss and wish them strength as they must continue their lives without the love and support she once provided,” DuPage County District Attorney Robert Berlin said in the press release. “The senseless and extremely violent end to the life of a promising young woman, as alleged in this case, will not be tolerated in DuPage County and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“The tragic reality is that Jessica’s young life has become a statistic of domestic violence due to the alleged actions of Mr. Jimenez. However, my office intends to seek full justice on Jessica’s behalf.”

“Domestic violence has no place in our society,” Villa Park Police Chief Michael Rivas said in the press release. “The defendant’s alleged actions are horrific. When the facts of the case come to light, there is no doubt that the defendant should face the full force of our justice system. The victim, Jessica Reyes, was only 24 years old and her life was senselessly taken. Jessica deserves to have her name mentioned. We are praying for her and her family.”

Jimenez’s next court date for arraignment is scheduled for August 12.