In NORTHLAKE, Ill. (WLS) — Authorities have discovered that the final suspect involved in the brutal murder of a 17-year-old in 2009 has been killed in Mexico, according to Northlake police during a Wednesday morning press briefing.
Police reported that on July 7, 2009, Eric Navarro was deceived into attending what he believed to be a party. However, he was attacked and killed. His remains were later transported to Chicago, where they were discarded in a garbage can and set ablaze, officials stated.
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Several have been convicted in the murder over the years, but Oscar Ocampo, who was wanted for first-degree murder, remained at large.
The FBI assisted Northlake police, and determined Ocampo was killed in Mexico in 2021, officials said Wednesday.
FBI Chicago Field Officer Ryan Maxwell emphasized, “Regardless of the time elapsed or the location of the offender, the FBI commits all their resources to seek justice for victims of violent crimes and provide closure to their families.”
This has allowed local police to close the case, and brings some closure for Navarro’s family.
“We kind of lost faith for a little bit because it was going from the FBI to the U.S. Marshal, and it went silent for many years. But hearing the phone calls and that news that the case was solved was very comforting in a way,” father Oscar Navarro said.
“Just having answers that we weren’t sure we’d ever get. We want to say thank you for not giving up on getting the information,” sister Karen Navarro said.
Mariusz Nowak was convicted in 2010 of murder, and sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Arturo Daza was arrested in Michigan, and convicted of concealing a homicidal death and reckless conduct, police said.
Christopher Gerken and Luis Lira were also sentenced to three years in prison for concealment of a homicidal death.
Gerken was later charged with murder in 2015 for a separate incident in DeKalb.
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