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Waukegan transient faces murder charge

A 26-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a family friend at a Waukegan hotel, police said.

Kevin C. Curtis, 26, a transient living in Waukegan and Kenosha, is accused killing Jacob Blum, 19, Waukegan police Sgt. Dave DeBaufer said Wednesday. A Lake County judge set Curtis’ bond at $5 million at a hearing Wednesday.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Scheller said Curtis has a status-of-attorney court date slated for Monday.

DeBaufer said cops were called to a hotel in the 3100 block of Belvidere Road about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday on a report of a man in the lobby who had been stabbed in the chest.

Blum was able to identify Curtis as his attacker before being taken to Vista West Medical Center, where he died of his injuries at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, DeBaufer said.

Police learned Curtis was visiting with Blum and another family member in their hotel room when he stabbed the victim without warning about two hours into the gathering, DeBaufer said.

After the stabbing, Blum was able to leave the hotel room and make it to the lobby for help.

Curtis was arrested and taken to the Waukegan police station, where he was later charged with first-degree murder and taken to Lake County jail.

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