WCSO Press Releases

   The Will County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help from the public in locating Raymond Martin, a Crete Township man, who was last seen on Saturday, May 22^nd.  Martin left the care of his family on foot around 7:30pm from his home that is near the E. Exchange and S. Klemme Road area.  Martin suffers from dementia and requires medication.

Mr. Martin is described as a male/white, age 63, 5’11” in height, and about 155 lbs.  He has brown hair, brown eyes, and light skin complexion.  He has a tattoo on his left upper arm that reads: “Ray” and a religious cross tattoo on his left ring finger.   Martin was last seen wearing a red flannel long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, and black shoes.  He has no cell phone, cash, or bank cards with him.

It is believed that Martin was observed hitchhiking on Exchange Road between Route 394 and just across the Indiana border.  Martin is known to frequent the Matteson and south side of Chicago areas.

If you see Raymond Martin or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact 911 or Laraway Communications Center at 815-727-8575.   You may also reach out to Will County Sheriff’s Detective DeMato at 815-727-8574 ext: 4912  (cdemato@willcosheriff.org).

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is seeking assistance from the public regarding the identification of a suspect involved in an aggravated battery complaint.   On June 12, 2020 at 5:30pm, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a battery complaint at Shades of Darkness Window Tinting, located at 13957 W. Illinois Highway in New Lenox Township.  Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the owner, Wayne Deutsch of Orland Park. 

Deutsch stated that an unknown male black subject with a large beard had beaten him.  Deutsch stated that he had previously done work on the subject’s vehicle.   Deutsch stated that the subject came into the store asking for a refund on the window tint that the subject paid for.  Deutsch and the subject had words, and the subject left the store.  Moments later the male black subject returned and started a physical confrontation with Deutsch.  The male black subject began beating Deutsch as he fell to the floor.  The subject fled the scene in a dark colored Chrysler 300 with tinted windows.   

Deutsch refused medical treatment on scene, and sheriff’s detectives immediately began an investigation into the incident.  Deutsch was unwilling to provide detectives with information pertaining to the identity of the suspect.  Detectives were advised on June 14, that Deutsch had been in the hospital and suffered from multiple broken ribs with fluid in his lungs. 

On June 17, Sheriff’s detectives were advised that Wayne Deutsch had succumbed to his injuries and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office would be performing an autopsy the following day.

As of this writing, the Will County Sheriff’s Office has not received any official information pertaining to the manner and cause of death as it relates to Wayne Deutsch.   

The case remains active and detectives are following all leads.   The Sheriff’s Investigation Unit is asking for help in identifying the suspect in this photo.  If anyone has any information related to this incident, please contact Detective Sean Moran at 815-727-8574 at extension 4914. 

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Over the past few months, several armed robberies have occurred at gas stations in Will County Sheriff’s jurisdictions, as well as municipal Will County areas.  The Sheriff’s Office has been working diligently with other law enforcement agencies in attempting to identify and arrest the offenders.   

 This morning around 5:40am, Speedway Gas Station, located at 7218 Lincoln Highway in Frankfort Township, was robbed for the second time in four days; also on 12/20/2019 at 4:30am.  In this morning’s robbery, there were two offenders and on 12/20, there were three offenders.  Initial reports indicate that the offenders are the same individuals in each of these robberies and similarities suggest they have been involved in recent robberies in other jurisdictions.  

 The individuals are identified as male blacks, mostly unidentifiable, wearing dark clothing, gloves, and ski masks, armed with handguns. In both incidents, the offenders enter the store, fully covered, and order the employees and a customer to the ground by gunpoint.  Employees are ordered to the back room while the offenders load cartons of Newport cigarettes into large garbage bags and take any currency that is in the register.  In some of the robberies, offenders have stolen customers’ wallets.  

 The vehicles used in recent area robberies have been identified as a white Jeep Grand Cherokee or a white Kia Optima.   Both vehicles have been observed on video surveillance with the registration plates covered by black garbage bags.

 Will County Sheriff’s detectives are asking the public for assistance in identifying these individuals.   Crime tips can be given by calling the Sheriff’s Investigations Division at 815-727-8574 or online at Crime Stoppers.  Please visit:  www.crimestoppersofwillcounty.org.   You can remain anonymous.  There is a cash reward for any tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of these individuals. 

The Sheriff’s Office is also asking the public to call 911 immediately if you observe a vehicle in the eastern sections of Will County with black garbage bags or any other obvious obstruction on a vehicles license plate.    

*Photos attached (four total).    -end-

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