Accused murderer won't face death penalty

Cook County prosecutors announced Tuesday they will not seek the death penalty in the case of an Elk Grove Village man charged with the July stabbing death of 52-year-old Jean Wattecamps at his Mount Prospect apartment.

However, if convicted of first-degree murder, Marko Guardiola, whose address is listed in court records as the 600 block of Perrie Drive, could face 20 to 60 years in prison. Police also charged Guardiola's co-defendant, 16-year-old Edwin Paniagua with first-degree murder. Paniagua, whose last known address was in Elk Grove Township, is being tried as an adult.

Authorities say Guardiola and Paniagua met Wattecamps — a baggage handler for American Airlines — at the swimming pool in the Colony Apartments complex where he had lived for six years. Police discovered the victim on July 22 after a relative called concerned that he hadn't shown up for work and wasn't returning phone calls, authorities said.

Police believe the killing occurred July 21.

Neither defendant lived at the complex, police said. Both are being held without bond. They next appear in court on Jan. 31.