New arrest, charges in Aurora drug slaying

A fourth person has been charged in connection with an Aurora drug deal gone bad that resulted in a Chicago man being shot to death Oct. 1.

Esteban Rodriguez, 41, of the 18W200 block of Knollwood Lane, Villa Park, has been charged with criminal drug conspiracy, armed violence and unlawful possession of a controlled substance in connection with the incident that occurred inside a house in the 600 block of North Root Street.

Detectives believe Rodriguez arranged a cocaine transaction between Hector Valtierrez, 28, of Chicago, and Juan R. Herrera, also 28, from Prescott, Wis.

When Valtierrez tried to make off with more than five kilograms of cocaine without paying, he and Herrera engaged in a gunfight and both were shot.

Valtierrez was killed. Herrera was shot in the groin and shoulder before flagging down a passing driver who took him to Provena Mercy Center Hospital where he was located by police.

Investigators say that after the shooting, Rodriguez, who was in the house at the time of the drug deal, fled to a hotel in downstate Chillicothe, where he was arrested Wednesday.

Herrera was charged with first-degree murder, armed violence and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Ernesto Acosta, 42, who lived at the Root Street address, was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.

Maria Valtierrez, 27, of the 4100 block of South Rockwell, Chicago, and the wife of Hector Valtierrez, was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and calculated criminal drug conspiracy.

Rodriguez is being held in Kane County on $2.5 million bond.

Detectives say the investigation is ongoing and they are continuing to pursue leads.

Anyone with information is asked to call Aurora police at (630) 801-6655 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to additional arrests.