Waukegan murder suspect found, 30 years later

Jorge Gonzales was back in a Lake County courtroom on Thursday and could be forgiven if he did not recognize the place.

It was nearly 30 years ago, officials say, that Gonzales, now 57, decided Lake County courtrooms were a hostile environment and he fled rather than stand trial for murder.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle Pascucci said Gonzales is charged with the Nov. 16, 1980 shooting death of Roberto Villalobos, 37, outside the Dugout Tavern on Waukegan’s south side.

According to police reports from the time, Gonzales and Villalobos got into a fight outside the tavern and Gonzales shot Villalobos once in the upper left leg with a .38 caliber revolver.

The bullet severed Villalobos’ femoral artery and he died the next day in a Waukegan hospital.

Witnesses identified Gonzales as the shooter, reports say, and he was arrested a few days later at his home in Kenosha, Wis., where he agreed to return to Lake County.

Pascucci said Gonzales pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and his bond was set at $125,000. He posted the required $12,500 to be released from jail.

When Gonzales failed to appear for a court hearing on May 4, 1981, Pascucci said, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

That warrant was still in effect when agents of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol encountered Gonzales in McAllen, Texas, a city near the southeastern tip of the state on the border with Mexico.

Pascucci said the circumstances of Gonzales’ arrest had not been forwarded to her as of Thursday. A spokesman for the border patrol could not provide additional details, including where Gonzales has been for 30 years.

Sheriff’s Lt. Christopher Thompson said his office was notified Feb. 28 that Gonzales was in custody in the Hidalgo County Jail in Texas, and that Gonzales had told a judge he was willing to return to Lake County.

Deputies from the sheriff’s warrants division went to Texas and brought Gonzales back on April 1, Thompson said. He is currently being held on $5 million bond.

Circuit Judge James Booras scheduled a trial for June 24 and ordered Gonzales to appear in court again June 1.

Local officials said so far, they have not been able to find any family of the late Mr. Villalobos.