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2nd suspect in Elgin stabbing murder dies

The second suspect believed to have been involved in the Dec. 17 murder of 61-year-old James S. Granger died Dec. 22, Elgin police said Tuesday.

Marvin G. Finklea, 27, of the 0-99 block of Poplar Creek, Elgin, died at St. Joseph Provena Hospital. Police suspect drugs and alcohol played a part in Finklea's death. They also say they found him bloody on the street after he was dragged in the second of his two attempted carjackings the night of Granger's murder.

The police department said it delayed revealing the death until family could be notified.

Granger's badly burned body was found after firefighters extinguished a suspicious fire at his Elgin apartment Dec. 17. Granger's body was stabbed numerous times, police say. An autopsy of Granger is also being conducted.

Jessica Leach, 28, also of the 0-99 block of Poplar Creek, Elgin, was charged Dec. 18 with one count of first-degree murder for her involvement in Granger's death. She is being held in Kane County jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

Police say Leach and Finklea were attempting to rob Granger. Leach was a friend of the victim and signaled to Finklea to come into the apartment, police say. The apartment was later set on fire.

Police say they believe Finklea also was involved in two attempted carjackings on Dec. 17 around East Chicago Street and Poplar Creek Drive.

About 7:30 p.m. that day, Elgin police received several telephone calls from Finklea threatening them, they said. Simultaneously, police were responding to a report of a carjacking at Elgin Liquor and Wine, 1350 E. Chicago St.

Police arrived to find a woman who said Finklea pulled her out of her car, got in and then crashed into the liquor store's window.

Moments later, police say, they were waved down by another man reporting that Finklea attempted to carjack his SUV. Finklea broke the SUV's window and was hanging on to the vehicle, but the victim continued to drive. Finklea was dragged before falling off.

Police found Finklea bloody in the street on Poplar Creek Drive and with a bottle of alcohol. He was taken to St. Joseph Provena Hospital.

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