Rapist caught hiding in chicken coop in Joliet: Sgt. Landeros

Joliet detectives interviewed Isaias Vargas and he admitted to climbing through the window and looking for the victim, police reported.

June 7, 2024, 8:39 a.m. CDT | Updated June 7, 2024, 8:40 a.m. CDT

JOLIET — Sgt. Tizoc Landeros of the Joliet Police Department Investigations announced that the 23-year-old resident of Richards Street Isaias Vargas is currently in the Will County Jail after being charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of burglary, false imprisonment, two counts of assault and one count of obstructing police.

According to Landeros, who represents Sergeant Dwayne English, the following events led to the arrest this week:

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At 7:37 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to the 900 block of Richards. The girl told them a man was in her home trying to attack her. The juvenile female victim called back and said it was the neighbor.

She told the dispatcher that Vargas hurt her and attempted to perform sexual acts. The victim then stated that Vargas fled through the back window.

At this point, officers saw Vargas coming out of the victim’s home. Vargas then began to flee from officers. Joliet police officers gave chase but eventually lost sight of Vargas due to the dense wooded area.

Officers observed the suspect’s home, also in the 900 block of Richards, and noticed a chicken coop. Vargas was found hiding on the second floor of the chicken coop.

Joliet Police investigators interviewed Vargas and he admitted to climbing through the window and looking for the victim. During the interview, Vargas told investigators that he attempted to have sex with the victim on Thursday.

He also admitted to sexually abusing the victim when she was younger, Landeros noted.

Joliet police would like to thank the Will County Sheriff’s Office, Will County District Attorney’s Office and the Will County Children Advocacy Center for their assistance in this case, Landeros noted.