FBI joins hunt for Villa Park murder suspect

A cabdriver charged with fatally shooting his parents in Villa Park is the focus of a nationwide manhunt.

The FBI recently joined the search for Artur Shehu, whom authorities suspect faked suicide to avoid prosecution and more than one month later remains on the lam.

Authorities released new photos Monday of their 33-year-old suspect and his slain parents while asking for the public's help to find him.

"We don't know if he's dead or alive," said Ross Rice, an FBI spokesman. "Nobody has seen him. There's no body; no murder weapon. His disappearance is possibly a ruse."

At 3:40 a.m. Jan. 7, Artur Shehu called 911 from a pay phone near the home he shared with his parents at 46 West Ridge and said, "the devil with the big head was going to get him," according to a federal affidavit filed last month in U.S. District Court. It said Shehu told police he planned to kill himself.

Police found a back door open. Shehu was not there. Instead, officers found his slain parents. Shehu is charged with murdering his father, Syrja, 66, and his 67-year-old mother, Safo, both shot in the head.

Police discovered a note in which the son admitted killing his parents, the affidavit said. The document also said Shehu planned to kill himself elsewhere, and hoped his burned body would never be recovered. If so, he requested that his remains be scattered into a lake or river.

Later that day, police found Shehu's abandoned taxicab along Addison Street and Lake Shore Drive, near Chicago's lakefront. Inside the taxi, authorities said they found Shehu's driver's license and another note in which he again admits killing his parents. Authorities also have Shehu's passport.

More than one month later, though, repeated lake searches failed to yield his body. Tips on possible sightings were fruitless.

Authorities said they suspect Shehu may still be alive, faking his suicide to throw off their investigation.

The Albanian national is a legal resident who speaks fluent English and Albanian. He has relatives in Canada and strong ties to the Albanian community in Chicago.

Shehu is described as 5 feet, 9 inches tall with black hair, brown eyes and a medium build. Anyone with information is urged to call the FBI's Chicago office at (312) 421-6700.