Beach Park man charged in Zion murder

A Beach Park man has been charged in connection to the murder of a 48-year-old woman who was found stabbed to death in Zion Sunday night.

Derrick C. Taylor, 38, of the 38700 block of N. Sheridan Road, is being held in lieu of $3 million bail on two counts of first degree murder, according to authorities.

Police said Taylor was identified as a person of interest early in the case after Joy Lee of Bristol, Wis., was found lying on a Zion street.

A passing motorist called police after spotting the woman’s lifeless body in an industrial area of Trumpet Park Drive at about 9 p.m. Sunday, according to Zion police.

Investigators were able to link Taylor to the case through “a tremendous amount of evidence,” which included blood matched through DNA analysis, according to police.

Lee suffered multiple stab wounds to her neck and hands when she was discovered, said Lake County Coroner Artis Yancey. The cause of death was determined to be blunt trauma and stab wounds to her neck, Yancey said.

Investigators also found stab wounds to her hands and arms, according to police.

The victim knew Taylor, according to police, and the murder appears to be an isolated incident.

The nature of the relationship was unclear as of Sunday night, according to police.

Police have not been able to find the “edged weapon” used to commit the murder.

Taylor was taken to bond court late Thursday afternoon, and remains in custody at the Lake County jail.

Zion detectives and members of the Lake County Major Crime Task handled the investigation.