Saturday, November 9, 2002
By Brent Watters
Jose Luera, of Santa Clarita, Calif., was wanted on an arrest warrant accusing him of the stabbing death of Roberto Villalobos on Aug. 27.
Another man, who is still at large, is suspected of slaying Villalobos' girlfriend, Alejandra Ramirez, whose body was found in a burning car a few hours after Villalobos was killed, the FBI said.
Villalobos, 19, of the 3600 block of West 79th Place, Chicago, and his girlfriend, Ramirez, 21, of the Chicago Lawn community, had driven to the house of a rival gang member near the city's Ashburn community, authorities said.
Witness told authorities that Villalobos and Ramirez were seen driving away with Jose Luera and another man. A short time later, witnesses told police that Villalobos was seen bleeding when he climbed out the window of his car shortly after midnight in the 7900 block of South Kolin Avenue.
Luera then chased Villalobos down and stabbed him 45 times with a 10-inch bow knife, authorities said.
Luera then fled in Villalobos' car, authorities said.
About 2½ hours later, police were called to the 3700 block of West 69th Street for a car fire, which is about two miles from where Villalobos was stabbed.
Once the fire was out, police officers and firefighters found Ramirez dead in the car's back seat, police said. An autopsy found Ramirez, of the 3500 block of West 60th Place, died of multiple stab wounds and strangulation.
Authorities arrested Luera in Newhall, Calif. He is expected to be extradited to Chicago to face prosecution on state murder charges.
Fugitive caught in California
Staff writer