Charges dropped in Carpentersville murder after questions with 'integrity of evidence'

Former and current top prosecutors in Kane County released a joint statement Wednesday that shed some light into the decision to drop murder charges against a Carpentersville man who had been accused of killing his neighbor in 2011.

Newly elected State's Attorney Jamie Mosser and her predecessor, Joe McMahon, said the office recently received "new and additional information" that prompted further review of physical evidence.

"After an analysis of the issues, questions arose about the integrity of certain evidence," their statement said. "This led us to conclude that we could not proceed with this prosecution."

The decision has been explained to relatives of the victim, Isabella Trejo, and to Carpentersville police.

The evidence review began while McMahon was state's attorney. McMahon, who did not seek reelection, concluded the review as he was turning over leadership of the office to Mosser, who started Dec. 1.

McMahon and Mosser said they were in agreement with the decision to dismiss charges against Dennis Kuzara, 75. He had been held in Kane County jail since the charges were filed in 2018.

Kuzara was charged with strangling Trejo with a cord from a fan, then stabbing the 57-year-old. At the time of his arrest, authorities said Kuzara was a close friend of Trejo, who was found dead in her apartment on Oct. 2, 2011.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about Trejo's death should call Carpentersville police at (224) 293-1658.