DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (WLS) — A tragic incident unfolded in the west suburbs on Monday night, as a 30-year-old pregnant woman was discovered with what appeared to be sharp force injuries amid an apartment fire, according to the Downers Grove police.
Authorities, including both police and fire departments, swiftly responded to the blaze at an apartment complex located in the 2300 block of Ogden Avenue. The call for assistance came just before 6:10 p.m., officials reported.
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Upon arrival, emergency responders extracted the woman from the building, but she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
In addition to the fatality, another individual was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital, suffering from smoke inhalation.
The police have initiated a homicide investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Supporting the investigation are the DuPage County Arson Task Force and the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, both of which are actively involved in uncovering the details of this case.
The woman’s cause of death will be determined by the DuPage County Coroner’s Office.
A person of interest is in custody, police said, but no charges have been filed.
Some other residents have been displaced by the fire.
Relatives identified the woman as Eliza Morales.
“She was just very sweet, a very kind person,” one relative said.
She leaves behind a toddler daughter and husband, family said.
“She was just a loving person, kind person. She would take her shirt off her back for anyone,” mother-in-law Angelica Silva said.
She worked in the payroll department of a children’s hospital.
Family members say they believe Morales was home alone and cooking dinner when her attacker knocked on the door. They say food left on the stove after the attack was what started the fire.
Relatives say the young mother was stabbed to death.
“Eliza was six months pregnant, visibly pregnant. Whoever did this knew she was pregnant and didn’t care,” a relative said.
“I can’t imagine type of monster bandit, when he was thinking. She was over five months pregnant, and you do this to a pregnant woman?” niece Diana Varela said.
Relatives are remembering Morales.
“I’m gonna spend the rest of my life missing her. I can get every second back with her and just continue try to live through her for my daughter,” husband Gabriel Morales said.
The incident has left the neighborhood in shock.
“It’s been a lot uproar, and people are take it out as you can see. The building is boarded up pretty good,” Deb Culbertson said.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Downers Grove Police Department at 630-434-5600.
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