WCSO Press Releases

Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley would like to announce that Chris Perez, age 28, of Joliet, has been arrested and charged for the offense of First Degree Murder. 

On 12/03/2017, at approximately 12:24 AM, deputies from the Will County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to 1462 Sterling Avenue in unincorporated Joliet Township in reference to a person being shot.  Upon arrival, deputies located a deceased male on the second floor of a residence with an apparent gunshot wound to the head.  The victim was later identified as Ricardo Perez, age 36, of Joliet.

Numerous patrol deputies, detectives and crime scene personnel assisted in the securing of the residence, and a search warrant was obtained to help further the investigation.    

Will County Sheriff’s Office detectives questioned several individuals into the early morning hours and developed a suspect in the case.  Chris Perez, who resides at 1462 Sterling Avenue, later confessed his involvement in the murder of his brother Ricardo Perez, and provided a detailed account of what had occurred.

Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office had been in constant contact with members of the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the decision to file First Degree Murder Charges in regards to this case was authorized by Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow.

Chris Perez’s first court appearance will be tomorrow at 1:30 P.M., at which time his bond will be set.

Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time.  

Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley and Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow are announcing that three counts of first-degree murder was filed today against Jeremy Boshears, age 32 of Coal City, in connection with the homicide of Kaitlyn Kearns. 

Jeremy Boshears was charged yesterday, 11/18/17, with Concealment of a Homicidal Death in Kankakee County where his bond was set at $250,000.  He must post $25,000 to secure his release on the Class 3 felony.  Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office took custody of Boshears and he was transferred to the Kankakee County Detention Center where he still remains.  Those charges were secured after Sheriff’s detectives located Kaitlyn’s body in her 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was parked inside a pole barn in Aroma Park Township in Kankakee County.

Will County Detectives continued working tirelessly this week in an attempt to bring closure to the Kearns family and to seek justice for Kaitlyn.  Additional search warrants were obtained in reference to this investigation and further leads were developed.  State’s Attorney James Glasgow and his team of prosecutors have been working closely with Sheriff’s detectives and a decision to file murder charges was made this afternoon after evidence gathered was reviewed in its entirety. 

The three counts of first-degree murder allege that Boshears shot Kaitlyn Kearns in the head with a firearm on November 13^th.

Will County Circuit Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes reviewed the murder case and signed an arrest warrant that included a $10 million bond (10% to apply).  A court date has yet to be scheduled.

Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe has agreed it is appropriate to prosecute all charges in Will County. He has agreed to dismiss his charge so that a similar charge can be filed in Will County as part of the overall prosecution of this case.

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 The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a warrant today for the arrest of Jeremy Boshears, age 32, of 495 E. 3^rd Street in Coal City in connection with the disappearance of Kaitlyn Kearns.  Boshears is being charged with one count of concealing a homicidal death, a Class 3 felony.  His bond was set at $250,000 (10% to apply).

 This morning, Sheriff’s detectives met with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office in order to determine that probable cause was met for the arrest of Boshears. 

On 11/16/17 Sheriff’s detectives were able to locate, through electronic means, Kaitlyn Kearns' 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee in a pole barn located on private property in Aroma Park Township, Kankakee County.  Kaitlyn’s body was discovered in the back of that vehicle.  Detectives do not believe that the property owner was involved or had knowledge of the concealment.   

Sheriff’s detectives believe that Kaitlyn Kearns had met Jeremy Boshears four weeks ago while working at Woody’s bar.  She had been in a dating relationship with Boshears for the past two weeks. 

Jeremy Boshears will be booked into the Jerome Combs Detention Center,  Kankakee County sometime today.   Mugshots will be provided by them.   

 Sheriff’s detectives continue to work this case in order to obtain enhanced charges.   Further information will be provided when appropriate.   –end-

The Will County Sheriff Office is announcing that Kaitlyn Kearns, age 24, of Mokena has been found.  After an overnight search by Sheriff’s detectives, Kaitlyn’s 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee was located in a rural area of Kankakee County.  Kaitlyn was discovered deceased at the scene. 

The Kankakee County Coroner’s Office is performing an autopsy and has positively identified the victim as Kaitlyn Kearns.  They have confirmed that Kaitlyn suffered from a single gunshot wound to her head.  Further toxicology and lab results will be made public upon completion.

Kaitlyn Kearns was reported missing on 11/14/17.  She was last seen 11/13/17 at Woody’s bar, 1008 E. Washington Street in Joliet, at 1:30am, where she was a bartender.  Sheriff’s detectives continue to actively investigate her death and will provide more information as it becomes available.  Detectives believe that there is no threat to the community and that Kaitlyn was the intended target of this homicide. 

Anyone with any information surrounding Kaitlyn's death is asked to call the Sheriff's Investigation Division at 815-727-8574; or the Sheriff's dispatch center at 815-727-8575. An anonymous tip can also be sent to crimestoppersofwillcounty.org

Update (11:43am):   The Will County Sheriff’s Office is confirming that the Sheriff’s SWAT team executed a search warrant at the Outlaws Clubhouse, 1915 E. Washington Street in Joliet, around 10am this morning.  This warrant is part of the active, ongoing investigation into the homicide of Kaitlyn Kearns. 

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On 11/14/2017, at approximately 2:45 PM, the Joliet Police Department took a missing person’s report for Kaitlyn M. Kearns.  Kaitlyn was reported being missing by her father.  It was reported to the Joliet Police Department that she was last seen tending bar at Woody’s Bar located at 1005 E. Washington Street in Joliet at approximately 12:30 AM on 11/13/2017.  She was driving a dark colored 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Illinois license plate ZX33462.  Kaitlyn was entered in the Law Enforcement Agencies Database as missing as well as her vehicle.    

On 11/15/2017, the Joliet Police Department met with Will County Sheriff’s Office Detectives in reference to Kaitlyn Kearns being reported as missing.  The missing person’s case was then handed over to the Will County Sheriff’s Office to investigate.  It has been reported to Will County Sheriff’s Detectives that Kaitlyn was last seen on 11/13/2017 at approximately 1:30 AM.  She was last seen traveling Eastbound on Washington Street in her vehicle. 

Kaitlyn is described as a twenty-four (24) year old, White, Female that is 4’11”, weighing approximately 100 pounds.  She has long brown hair, and was last seen wearing a pink White Sox hoodie with blue jeans.  She has a tattoo on her left forearm with the word “Warrior” inscribed that is red and black in color, as well as a tattoo of a cross on her neck.

Detectives with the Will County Sheriff’s Office are currently conducting interviews in regards to this case, and as information develops the Will County Sheriff’s Office will provide updates.   

If anyone has any information pertaining to disappearance of Kaitlyn, the Will County Sheriff’s Office is urging the public to contact detectives at 815-727-8574 or the Will County Dispatch Center at 815-727-8575.        

Late yesterday afternoon, November 7^th, about 4:33pm, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 900 block of Ogden Road, New Lenox Township, regarding a car hijacking.  The 40-year-old male victim stated that he had posted an ad to sell his girlfriend’s 2014 Kia Optima on numerous websites.  He was contacted by a female who expressed interest in purchasing the vehicle and they set up a time to meet.  The female stated that she would be sending a male individual to meet at the victim’s house at 4:30pm. 

 At the agreed time, three male black subjects arrived at the home in a white late-model Dodge Challenger with blue stripes.  Two of the subjects were described as approximately 20 years old, tall with thin builds, wearing jeans and hooded sweatshirts.  The victim was unable to describe the third subject. 

 Victim stated that he showed the Kia to the subjects and then was asked to take a test drive.  The victim entered the passenger seat, while one subject drove, the other got in the backseat. A brief test drive was completed and upon returning to the residence the victim was asked to take the subjects to the bank to complete a wire transfer for the vehicle.  While in the area of W. Woodlawn and S. Pine, the driver stopped the vehicle, told the victim to empty his pockets, and then felt what he believed to be a firearm pressed to the back of his head.  The victim complied and was told to get out of the vehicle.  As the car took off the victim was struck by the open door.  Victim stated he also observed the Dodge Challenger fleeing the area, with the Kia, down Woodlawn Road.   

 The victim refused medical attention.  All police agencies were notified of the car hijacking.  Detectives believe the vehicle may have been in the Hazel Crest area.   This incident remains under investigation.

 If anyone has any information regarding this incident they are asked to call the Will County Sheriff’s Office at 815-727-8575.    -end-