Source says suspect in Indian Head Park killing in custody
By Jane Michaels jmichaels@pioneerlocal.com October 28, 2011 1:46PM
Possible suspect
Article Extras
Updated: January 13, 2012 10:49AM
The burglar that authorities believe killed a 14-year-old girl after she surprised him when she walked into her Indian Head Park home after school is in custody, a source close to the investigation said Friday.
The man was a stranger to Kelli O’Laughlin, a freshman at Lyons Township High School, the source said.
Indian Head Park Police Chief Frank Alonzo declined to comment on the reports that a suspect was already in custody, saying “it’s all under investigation.”
Alonzo earlier Friday released a sketch of a person of interest in the stabbing death of 14-year-old Kelli O’Laughlin.
“We had a 14-year-old girl returning home from school,” between 4:45 and 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Alonzo said. “And as she entered the house, we believe she foiled a burglary in the home, and the girl was killed.”
“They confronted her, and, sadly, they killed her.”
The police said Friday that, from a witness’ description, they were looking for a dark-complexioned black man, 25 to 35 years old, about 5-feet-8 or 5-feet-9 inches tall, with a medium build who was wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt and had a backpack or “strap bag with an unknown type of pattern on it.”
The girl’s mother came home and found her.
“Our community has been shaken,” Indian Head Park Mayor Richard Andrews said. “It feels as if we’ve all lost a family member.”
O’Laughlin, suffered multiple traumatic injuries, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office,
She was pronounced dead at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital in La Grange at 5:39 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Friday confirmed O’Laughlin died from multiple stab and incise wounds and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.
The slaying is not believed linked to a series of about half a dozen burglaries in town over the summer.
“That group was apprehended,” the police chief said. “As far as I know, those people were in custody and in the court system.”
The South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force is working with Indian Head Park Police on the investigation, Alonzo said. Anyone with information is asked to call (708) 246-4534.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment