A 61-year-old woman from Illinois tragically lost her life in a brutal carjacking incident on Wednesday morning, during which she was strangled with a zip tie.
The victim, identified as Ma Operio, was reportedly attacked outside her Harwood Heights residence by Reese Miller, a 24-year-old homeless man employed at a local bakery. According to the arrest records, Miller allegedly strangled Operio with a zip tie and violently beat her head against the pavement, leading to her death. Following the assault, he is said to have fled the scene in the victim's stolen vehicle.
An eyewitness to the horrific incident informed the police that they had seen a man in a black hoodie, later identified as Miller, choking Operio near her car before driving off in her blue Toyota. Upon their arrival, the police found Operio with a zip tie around her neck, her face having turned a disturbing shade of purple.
Miller was subsequently apprehended in the stolen car. The police noted that he had scrapes on his hands and knees, a blood spot on his jeans, and was wearing clothes that matched the description provided by the eyewitness. His attire also matched that of a man seen in a video recording near the crime scene minutes before the attack.
Maria Gimeno, Operio's mother, told WGN-TV that her daughter was resuscitated and rushed to Lutheran General Hospital, where she was placed on life support. However, the family made the heart-wrenching decision to remove her from life support on Saturday after being informed that she was brain dead.
In a strange twist, the police discovered a note in the stolen car after it was impounded, seemingly referencing the gruesome crime. The note read, "Im deeply sorry for hurting anyone at the moment, it seemed to be the only choice. I didnt want to hurt people. It was never something I ever thought possible until the realization of reality hit me." A knife was also found in the vehicle.
Prosecutors stated that Miller allegedly admitted to strangling Operio and stealing her car. He has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking, with additional charges expected to be filed.
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