Aurora woman's death declared a homicide
Brenetta Beck's relatives knew she had problems with ex-boyfriend Hezekiah Hamilton. But they didn't think the Joliet man was capable of what he's been charged with: Murdering the 25-year-old Aurora woman by stabbing her more than 50 times.
"I knew (Hamilton), but I never knew he was a monster like that," said Beck's mother, also named Brenetta, following a Kane County coroner's inquest Wednesday in which her daughter's death was ruled a homicide.
Hamilton, 24, is due today in Kane County court. He was charged Nov. 20 and was being held at the Kane County Jail on $2 million bond.
Police found Beck, a hospice caretaker, about 6:45 a.m. Oct. 30 in the bathroom of her second-floor apartment on Molitor Road after she failed to return phone calls. She had given birth 10 days earlier.
Beck, wearing a black nightgown, was found slumped against the bathtub and wall with stab founds on her face and chest. Her children, 16-month-old Tamia, and Trevion, the newborn, were crying but unharmed.
Aurora police Detective Sally Trujillo declined to say whether authorities had recovered a murder weapon.
Loren Carrera, chief deputy coroner, said Beck had "numerous" stab wounds to her body and defensive wounds on her arms.
After breaking up with Hamilton earlier this year, Beck learned she was pregnant. Hamilton was ordered last summer to pay $91.78 in weekly child support for Tamia, court records show. On Nov. 14 Beck was granted an emergency protective order in Kane County, accusing Hamilton of threatening her.
A fund for "Brenetta's Kids" has been set up and donations can be made at any TCF Bank. A fundraiser is planned from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 22 at Long Island Sound Banquet Hall, 19320 E. New York St., Aurora. For details, call (630) 898-2943.
The elder Brenetta Beck is seeking permanent guardianship of her grandchildren.
"Brenetta left two beautiful kids, and I thank God for that. I'll be proud to raise them," she said.