A pregnant Chicago woman was killed in the prime of her life and dumped on the side of a road in a far-flung suburb late last month. Now, law enforcement believes they have the killer in custody.
Megan Lewis, 39, was found dead inside a black plastic bag on Nov. 29. The victim was discovered along Hunt Club Road in the tiny village of Old Mill Creek, south of Illinois Route 173, also called Rosecrans Road, a few miles away from the Wisconsin border.
According to an autopsy by the Lake County Coroner’s Office, the victim was four months pregnant when she was strangled.
Juan Vega-Montoya, 37, was arrested on Monday by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office near his home in Chicago. He was initially charged with one count of concealing a homicidal death in Lake County, where he appeared in court the same day he was arrested.
Lake County prosecutors filed for his pre-trial detention – while also transferring Vega-Montoya’s case to the Chicago Police Department because the murder is presumed to have occurred in the Windy City. Prosecutors in Cook County are anticipated to seek murder charges for Lewis’s suspected killer, the sheriff’s office says.
“It is simply unconscionable to kill someone then dump their body on the side of a roadway, in a humiliating fashion,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said in a statement. “I am very proud of the members of our Office who spent countless hours seeking evidence and searching for Megan’s killer. I am grateful for all of the agencies who assisted and worked to hold Megan’s killer accountable.”
The victim’s obituary eulogizes her as a “Precious Soul Gone Too Soon.”
“Megan Lewis, a name now etched in the collective consciousness, was more than the tragic circumstances surrounding her passing,” the remembrance reads. “Born into the bustling energy of Chicago, her life unfolded against the backdrop of a vibrant city filled with diverse experiences, challenges, and moments of joy. Megan’s journey was unique, a tapestry woven with threads of resilience, connections, and the ebb and flow of urban life.”
On social media, friends also mourned her death, offered prayers, and noted she leaves behind a son.
Her obituary paints her as a genuine resident product of the city where she spent her life – and died.
“As a resident of Chicago, Megan was no stranger to the city’s heartbeat—a rhythm defined by its people, neighborhoods, and the rich tapestry of cultures that coexist within its boundaries,” the remembrance continues. “Her presence in this vibrant metropolis was a testament to her resilience, navigating the urban landscape with a spirit that mirrored the dynamism of the city itself. In the wake of Megan’s passing, her identity extends beyond the tragic circumstances surrounding her discovery.”
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The arrest was made after detectives reviewed countless hours of video surveillance footage and collected physical evidence from the scene of the crime, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators allege Vega-Montoya picked up Lewis near Cicero Avenue and West Belden Avenue in Chicago on Nov. 26.
“Sheriff’s detectives believe Vega-Montoya began arguing with Lewis in the vehicle,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release. “During the argument, Vega-Montoya strangled Lewis to death.”
Vega-Montoya then drove home and left his victim’s body inside his vehicle for two days before dumping her sometime during the overnight hours on Nov. 28, investigators allege.
The suspect was arrested during a traffic stop while a law enforcement task force was performing surveillance on his residence.
“Additional physical evidence of the homicide was located inside Vega-Montoya’s vehicle,” the sheriff’s office alleges.
Law&Crime reached out to the Chicago Police Department for additional details on this story, but a spokesperson said they were unable to find any information about the referral as of Thursday, even after being provided with the sheriff’s office’s full press release.
“We do not have anyone in custody by that name, and we are not finding any incident reports based on the information provided so we do not have any further information,” Chicago police said.
Vega-Montoya’s case has yet to be docketed on the Cook County court system as of Thursday. Law&Crime also reached out to the Cook County State Attorney’s Office for details on this story.
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