West Chicago murder suspect will not be released for orthodontic care
A DuPage County judge has denied a 16-year-old murder suspect's request to temporarily be released from custody so her orthodontist can remove her braces.
Tia Brewer was not in court Thursday, but her assistant public defender sought her temporary release, under the care of her parents, for the orthodontist visit.
Judge George Bakalis ruled any such treatment should be administered while Brewer is in custody. She is being held without bail in the Aug. 14 murder of 18-year-old Luis Guerrero in West Chicago.
Brewer, of an unincorporated area near West Chicago, and three 18-year-olds from West Chicago, Francisco Alvarado, Saul Ruiz and Jesus Correa, each have been indicted on seven counts of first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of armed robbery and concealment of a homicide. Bail has been denied for each defendant.
The four are accused of killing Guerrero, whose burned body was found in a fire pit along Joliet Street by members of the West Chicago Fire Department during a training drill. The pit is across the street from Alvarado's house.
Prosecutors say Ruiz, Alvarado and Brewer arranged to meet Guerrero the evening of Aug. 13, "eventually tracking him down" at a Burger King near the West Chicago Public Library. Alvarado and Brewer stabbed and punched Guerrero while Ruiz held him down, authorities said.
The three stole Guerrero's backpack, loaded him into a Jeep Cherokee and drove to the fire pit, where they "tortured, beat and kicked Guerrero as he begged for his life," prosecutors said.
Correa arrived later with a container of gasoline - for which he received $200, authorities said - and also beat and kicked Guerrero.
Authorities said Brewer poured the gasoline on Guerrero and set him on fire. While on fire, Guerrero got up and began to run away, and Alvarado and Brewer ran him over with the Jeep, loaded him into the vehicle, drove back to the fire pit, threw him in it and set him on fire again, authorities alleged.
Brewer's next court date is scheduled for Oct. 29.