Chicago man charged in New Lenox killing (Forget the Mexican border, put a fence around Chicago)

A 23-year-old Chicago man convicted of burglarizing and burning the Illinois Aviation Museum in Bolingbrook in 2009 was charged today with murdering a 59-year-old Mokena-area man in his home on the 13000 block of 184th Place.
Will County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Kaupas said Rodney Julun of the 6900 block of South Laflin Street was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of home invasion, three counts of residential burglary, one count of robbery, and one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. His bond has been set at $5 million.
Kaupas said Julun met Dwight Jones, 59, for the first time on June 11, and Jones invited Julun to his home in unincorporated New Lenox Township, Kaupas said. The Will County Coroner's Office, which ruled blunt-force trauma to the head as the cause of Jones' death, said the homicide appeared to have occurred June 11, Kaupas said.

Julun allegedly met up with two other Chicago men -- John Henry White, 20, of the 4900 block of West Erie Street and David Darnell Reed, 23, of the 7300 block of South Prairie Avenue -- and told them about the murder.

Reed and White were charged with burglary, and remained in the Will County Adult Detention Facility today in lieu of $250,000 bail apiece.

On June 12, the three allegedly drove Jones' VW Jetta to his home and burglarized it, Kaupas said, adding investigators believe the trio returned to Jones' home at least once more.

Reed allegedly told investigators he recalled seeing Jones' body lying on a bed, wrapped in bed clothing "and doused with gasoline," prosecutors said at Reed's bond hearing today.
Jones' abandoned car was recovered last week in Harvey.

Police arrested Julun late last week on a warrant for allegedly violating the terms of a 48-month probation on the arson and burglary conviction.

$250K bail for man accused of robbing murdered man's home

A Will County Circuit Court judge set bail at $250,000 Tuesday for a 23-year-old Chicago man accused of stealing from the home of a murder victim as his decomposing body lay on a bed.
Judge Marzell L. Richardson initially appeared to balk at setting such a high amount for David Darnell Reed, charged only with the burglary of the residence on the 13000 block of 184th place in unincorporated Mokena.  But Richardson was persuaded after a prosecutor said Reed told Will County Sheriff's Police he was aware of the murder of Dwight Jones.
Jones’ body was found June 14.
According to prosecutors, Reed said he accompanied the alleged murderer and a third man to Jones' home in the victims’ stolen car. Reed allegedly said he recalled seeing Jones' body lying on a bed, wrapped in bed clothing "and doused with gasoline."
Also charged with burglary in connection with Jones' murder is John Henry White, 20, of the 4900 block of West Erie Street in Chicago. White's bail was also set at $250,000 Monday.
A 23-year-old Chicago man who officials say is also connected to the crime is in the Adult Detention Facility as well but has not yet been charged, according to the Will County State's Attorney's Office. That man was taken into custody Friday on a warrant for allegedly violating probation in a 2009 burglary. His bail is set at $100,000 in connection with that charge.
Will County Sheriff's deputies found Jones' decomposing body June 14. They also found the patio door unlocked, rooms ransacked and Jones' car missing from the garage. The Will County Coroner's Office said Jones, 59, died of blunt-force trauma.