Charges filed in 10-year-old double slaying

Murder charges were announced Thursday in the 10-year-old double slaying of Brendon P. Anderson of Geneva and Elias M. Calcano of Aurora.

Jamie M. Diaz, 31, formerly of Aurora, was indicted by a Kane County grand jury Tuesday on six counts of first-degree murder, according to the state's attorney's office. Diaz is in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections with bail set at $5 million.

Anderson and Calcano, both 21, were shot and killed March 16, 1998, in an alley off New York Street in Aurora, where Anderson also was set on fire and Calcano badly beaten.

On Thursday, Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti said ongoing forensic testing of undisclosed evidence gave prosecutors a break in the case.

"For a long time we've been looking at this forensically through scientific examination," Barsanti said. "Recently, that examination has born fruit."

The motive for the double homicide remains unclear. Barsanti would say only that prosecutors "cannot prove this was gang-related."

If convicted in both homicides, Diaz would be eligible for the death penalty, Barsanti said, although his office has not decided whether to pursue the ultimate punishment. Diaz's initial court date has not been set.

For years, the gruesome crime cast a shadow on the Tri-Cities, as Anderson's parents made repeated public appeals for help finding their son's killer.

The Anderson family could not be located for comment Thursday. But in 1998, Anderson's mother Kathy described the tragedy to the Daily Herald as the "most heinous crime in the city of Aurora."

"Someone who could do this is a vicious, awful person," she said then. "You don't want them walking around."

Authorities ask anyone with additional information about the case to call (630) 801-6655 or, to remain anonymous, (630) 892-1000. A $5,000 reward is offered for information that leads to any additional arrests.