A 52-year-old resident of Waukegan has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the Department of Homeland Security, following charges of concealing the remains of a 37-year-old missing woman from Antioch.
Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez was charged with concealment of a death, abuse of a corpse and obstructing justice in the death of Megan Bos, police said.
The woman had been missing since early March when she was found in a container in his yard in April, Waukegan police said.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
Mendoza-Gonzalez had his first court appearance April 12 in Lake County, where he was granted pre-trial release.
More than three months after the initial charge, officials reported that Mendoza-Gonzalez, who is originally from Mexico, was apprehended by ICE agents on Friday in Chicago. This information was released in a statement from DHS and shared with ABC7 Chicago.
Mendoza-Gonzalez is now being held at the Lake County Jail in Waukegan, DHS said.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart mentioned on Saturday that his office intends to file a request to keep him detained locally. He emphasized, “We believe a criminal trial and sentencing are more suitable than deportation proceedings due to the multiple felony charges, which, if convicted, could result in consecutive prison terms.”
Bos was reported missing from Antioch March 9. Antioch and Waukegan police worked for weeks to locate her, officials said. Police found Bos’ body April 10.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy April 11 and said there were not any signs of trauma or struggle.
Antioch detectives had gone to a Waukegan business to question Mendoza-Gonzalez, a person of interest who had frequent contact with Bos, police said.
Mendoza-Gonzalez said Bos came to his house Feb. 19, but initially said she left after the visit, police said. Then, Mendoza-Gonzalez said “he did not want to be arrested at the store but did not say why,” police said.
At the Waukegan Police Department, Mendoza-Gonzalez said Bos was in a container in his yard, in the 700-block of Yeoman Street in Waukegan, police said.
He told police Bos had come over Feb. 19 and at some point had done drugs, police said. He said he went to another part of the house, and when he came back she appeared to have overdosed and was dead, police said.
Mendoza-Gonzalez allegedly told police he was scared he would get in trouble; so, he left her in his basement for a few days before moving her to a container in his yard, police said.
Mendoza-Gonzalez said he broke her phone and threw it away after she died, police said. He said he did not know what he was going to do with her body.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart issued the following full statement Saturday:
“The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has been in constant contact with the family about Megan’s death and the ongoing investigations by the Waukegan Police Department and the Lake County Coroner’s office into the circumstances of her death and discovery of her body, which includes how and when she obtained fentanyl and what role that may have played in her death. As was previously reported, the initial autopsy reports showed no signs of trauma or a struggle and at no point was Megan decapitated before or after her death. While we have not been contacted by ICE, we are preparing an official request that this offender be held locally. As we have told the family, we believe that a criminal trial and sentencing is more appropriate than deportation procedures. The defendant is charged with several felonies, which can result in potential consecutive prison sentences upon a conviction. As people know, deportation to another country does not lead to prison in that country. If he were to agree to deportation, he could be free in days. We are hopeful that he will be brought to court so that he can be held fully accountable for his actions.”
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
