WCSO Press Releases

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that a male inmate who had attempted to hang himself in his cell has passed away. The Sheriff’s Office was notified yesterday, around 2:30pm, that the inmate was pronounced deceased at St. Joseph Hospital.

As previously reported, on June 13, 2019 at the Adult Detention Facility, Sheriff’s correctional deputies, medical staff, and the Joliet Fire Department worked together in an attempt to save the inmates life. Through life saving measures, Joliet Fire was able to revive the inmate and transported him to St. Joseph Hospital where he remained in critical condition.

The inmate’s name is not being released at this time. Per state statute, all in-custody inmate deaths must be turned over to an outside law enforcement agency for investigation. Sheriff’s detectives initially took on the investigation, but following the inmates death, the investigation will now be turned over to the Will/Grundy Major Crimes Task Force.

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The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that it is joining the free Neighbors app by Ring to provide unincorporated Will County residents with real-time, local crime and safety information. The Neighbors network already has millions of users and has been instrumental in catching package thieves, stopping burglaries, and keeping neighborhoods safe.

Residents can text willcounty to 555888 from their smartphone to download the Neighbors app for free on iOS or Android and use the app to: join their neighborhood, share crime and safety-related videos, photos and text-based posts; and receive real-time safety alerts from their neighbors, local law enforcement and the Ring team.

This is how you get started:
• Download the app:
Text willcounty to 555888 or visit: https://download.ring.com/willcounty
• Opt in to join your neighborhood.
• Customize the geographic area you want to receive notifications to (users must verify where they are located and cannot participate in other neighborhoods).
• Start receiving real-time alerts as they happen.
• View local crime and safety posts via a live feed or interactive map.
• Share text updates, photos and videos taken on any device, including Ring’s home security devices.
• Work with your community to make neighborhoods safer.

That’s it! It’s that easy! Get involved with your community – be a good neighbor! Let’s work together in making Will County a safer place to live.

For more information visit: www.ring.com/neighbors
Follow us on Facebook at Will County Sheriff's Office (and/or) Will County Sheriff Investigations Division

*2 photos attached

Full story »

On June 13, 2019, Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Will County Adult Detention Facility for a report of a male inmate who had attempted to hang himself in his cell. Upon arrival at the ADF, deputies were notified by correctional personnel that the Joliet Fire Department had revived the inmate and were transporting him to St. Joseph Hospital.

Initial reports indicate that a Correctional Deputy conducted a headcount of the cell pod at 7:00pm. At that time, the inmate and his cellmate were both outside the cell. A short time later, when the Correctional Deputy was conducting a security check, he observed the inmate hanging by a bedsheet. The inmate was not breathing when the Correctional Deputy freed him. The Correctional Deputy immediately began CPR. He continued CPR while calling for medical assistance. ADF medical personnel arrived and took over emergency protocol procedures until Joliet Fire responded.

The inmate remains at St. Joseph Hospital and is in critical condition. The inmate has been in custody at the Adult Detention Facility for four weeks. He is being held on multiple felony charges that include home invasion, criminal trespass, and criminal damage to property, aggravated domestic battery charges, and violations of orders of protection.
The inmate’s name is not being released at this time.

As is standard procedure, the Will County Sheriff’s Investigation Division is investigating the incident.

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Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley has been notified by the Will County Coroner’s Office that two recent inmate’s deaths were the result of natural causes.

On March 18, 2019 inmate Jacob Adejola, Sr. was remanded from court to the Adult Detention Facility to serve a 180 day sentence. He was held in the medical unit of the ADF. On May 3rd, based on abnormal lab results, the medical staff of the Correctional Care Solutions recommended he be transported to the hospital. Around 4pm, he was transported. On Saturday morning, Mr. Adejola passed away at the hospital. The Will County Coroner’s Office was contacted and the results of the report indicate that Mr. Adejola died of natural causes resulting from cardiac arrhythmia.

On April 23, 2019 at 5:45am, inmate Aaron Bowers was found by correctional staff on his bunk and unresponsive. Emergency medical assistance began on Bowers and Joliet Fire personnel was called to the Adult Detention Facility. He was transported to Presence St. Joe’s Hospital in Joliet where he was pronounced deceased at 6:24am by medical doctors. The Will County Coroner’s Office was contacted and the results of the report indicate that Mr. Bowers died of natural causes resulting from a dilated cardiomyopathy.

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On June 1, 2019, about 8:00pm, Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 23000 block of Fern Street in Plainfield Township regarding a female who had been stabbed. Upon arrival officers observed the offender, identified as Ederaldo Frantz, age 24, of 23556 Fern Street in Plainfield, sitting in the front yard of a residence with a Halloween mask on being detained by Plainfield Police who had also responded to the call. Frantz had blood on his arms and clothing and was taken into custody. He was transported to St. Joseph Medical Center for evaluation and later released to Sheriff’s deputies for questioning.

According to reports, earlier in the evening, a 50-year-old female caretaker and Frantz had a verbal argument regarding Frantz’s inappropriate use of his cell phone where he had contacted a female. Frantz was aware of his instructions pertaining to contacting females on his phone. The caretaker took Frantz’s phone and returned to the living area of the home. A short time later Frantz began playing the Halloween theme song on his iPod, put a mask on, grabbed a kitchen knife, and entered the living area of the home where the caretaker was. Frantz then began to attack her and stabbed her several times before the caretaker was able to free herself and run out of the residence.

Once outside Frantz chased the caretaker and caught her. He again began stabbing her multiple times. The caretaker was able to run to a nearby residence where a couple spoke to her and began assisting her with medical aid until police and fire personnel arrived on the scene. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was immediately taken into surgery. She suffered from over 30 stab wounds. The knife that was used in the assault had also broken off, with the blade remaining inside her chest wall. She is expected to recover.

Frantz was interviewed by detectives and transported to the Adult Detention Facility where he is being held on two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated domestic battery, and one count of attempted murder. His bond has been set for $500,000 (10% to apply).

The Fern Street residence is a residential home for developmentally disabled individuals and is managed through “Help at Home”.

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Full story »

The Will County Sheriff’s Office, Investigation Unit, is continuing their search for two unknown male subjects who are believed to be responsible for the home invasion and death of 63 year-old, Francisco Aranda of the 26000 block of S. Klemme Road in Crete Township. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home yesterday at 10:25am for a welfare check on Mr. Aranda and his wife after both did not show up for their respective jobs. Upon a search of the residence, deputies located the victims inside their 2003 Chevy Impala that was parked in the attached garage. Deputies were not able to see through the windows of the vehicle because of extreme condensation but when opening the door found the female victim inside with her hands tightly bound behind her back.

Mr. Aranda's wife, who is 59 years old, stated that two masked male subjects entered their residence the previous evening in order to rob them. Aranda and his wife were both bound with their hands behind their backs and placed inside the trunk of the Impala. In an attempt to escape, Mr. Aranda began kicking at the back seat and was able to loosen one side allowing his wife to crawl through the opening. Aranda’s wife stated that she heard her husband breathing erratically before she passed out. It is believed that Mr. Aranda’s actions most likely saved his wife’s life.

Crete Township Fire transported Aranda's wife to St. Margaret’s Hospital where she was treated for severe bruising to her hands from being tightly bound. She is expected to recover and be released sometime today.

Initial information indicates that the victims were specifically targeted by the offenders in order to rob them.

The Will County Coroner’s Office completed an autopsy today and found cause of death to be inconclusive, pending toxicology and lab reports. Mr. Aranda was found with no external indications of trauma to his body.

Will County Sheriff’s detectives have been vigorously working this investigation since they responded to the scene yesterday. They will continue following leads until the offenders of this horrendous crime are caught and prosecuted.

Anyone with information regarding this incident may call the Sheriff’s Investigations Unit at 815-727-8574.
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