Palatine man charged in girlfriend’s Nov. 29 slaying

A 43-year-old Palatine man is behind bars facing accusations he fatally shot his girlfriend late last year, police said Tuesday.

Sergio E. Velasquez Fuentes, of the 1700 block of North Hicks Road, is charged with first-degree murder in the Nov. 29 slaying of Fatima Lizeth Escalante Matamoros.

The 42-year-old woman was found with a gunshot wound to the head by police officers as they conducted a well-being check on the 1700 block of North Hicks Road on the night of Nov. 29, authorities said. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

According to police, investigators identified her boyfriend, Velasquez Fuentes, as a person of interest. He fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival that night but was found the next morning by police in Streamwood, officials said.

He was turned over to Palatine detectives then released without charges Dec. 2, pending further investigation, police said.

On Dec. 13, Palatine police obtained an arrest warrant for Velasquez Fuentes for first-degree murder and learned he was in federal custody on an unrelated matter, officials said.

He was arrested by Palatine police Monday and appeared in court Tuesday for a pretrial detention hearing. He was ordered to remain in custody at the Cook County jail at least until his next court date, scheduled for Jan. 29.