WCSO Press Releases

The Will County Sheriff's Office is investigating the suspicious deaths of two male individuals.  Last night (6/26/18), at 9:54pm, deputies were dispatched to the area of Rowell Avenue and Sugar Creek Drive, Joliet Township, for a vehicle that was fully engulfed in flames.  East Joliet Fire was on scene extinguishing the fire.  Upon their completion, deputies discovered two individuals inside the vehicle.  Both bodies were severely burned and unrecognizable but have been identified as two male subjects.  The Will County Coroner's Office took possession of the bodies and will perform an autopsy today.   

Sheriff's detectives  have been actively working this case through the night.  They are seeking help from the public.  If you were in the area and possibly saw anything suspicious or if you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Sheriff's Investigation Division at 815-727-8574.    

Updates will be provided as public  information becomes available.   

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Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is announcing a new free partnership with OfferUp, a mobile marketplace, which also supplies law enforcement agencies with free signs to establish a safe and public way to buy or sell items offline. Millions of local item exchanges happen every day throughout our communities.  Successful buying and selling experiences rely on trust.  Unfortunately, over the past few years, the Sheriff's Office has seen an increase where strangers agree to buy or sell something from each other and have become the victim of a robbery and/or assault during the transaction process. 

 The signs are now in place to assist residents with a free, easy, and safer option. The Sheriff's Office has established a location at the Will County Sheriff's Office, 16911 W. Laraway Road in Joliet.  This location is equipped with green signage designated as a "Community Meet Up Spot" and is well lit and monitored with video surveillance.  If something goes wrong, the surveillance footage can help police investigate and, ideally, lead them to an arrest and prosecution.  This internet purchase exchange location also lets buyers and sellers avoid giving out their home or work address.  It is available 24/7, and is located in the parking lot at the front of the building. 

 The Sheriff’s Office has signed up as an exchange location on the OfferUp marketplace App, however, this location can be used when shopping on any other Apps or whenever a citizen needs a safe location to exchange items.

 *photos attached

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Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is announcing the arrest of Philip W. Buroff, age 25, formerly of Orland Park, currently residing in Frankfort with acquaintances.  Buroff will appear in court at 1:30pm today for a bond hearing on charges of two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse/ages 13 to 18 and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.  

In April 2018, Sheriff's detectives began investigating allegations of sexual misconduct by a Wendy's Restaurant supervisor, Philip Buroff and an under-age female (victim) employee.  The victim stated that she and Buroff worked together at the restaurant in Mokena and became friends.  Over a year-long period of time the relationship expanded to inappropriate sexual advancements over cellphone texting and a private social media site and eventually turned into engaging in sex.

Sheriff's detectives brought Buroff in for questioning yesterday, 5/7/18, where he made statements implicating himself and stated that he was aware of the victim being 16 years of age.   He was arrested and brought to the Adult Detention Facility.

  Detectives are asking anyone that may have information about Buroff having any other potential relationships with under-age victims to please call Detective Burket at 727-8574 ext. 4965.  Philip Buroff has been a supervisor at several Wendy's restaurants in the areas of Frankfort, Mokena, Manteno, and Matteson.  -END-

   Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley is announcing the arrest of Raul Orona, Jr, age 34, of 218 Troy Court in Romeoville.   In February 2018, Will County Sheriff’s detectives began an online investigation regarding a suspicious Craigslist posting.  During the investigation it was determined that the owner of the posting, later identified as Raul Orona, Jr., was interested in meeting up with the 14-year-old (fictitious) girl to engage in sex.    Numerous emails were exchanged that were sexual in nature throughout the course of the investigation.      

  On April 26, 2018, Sheriff’s detectives arranged a meeting with Orona in a pre-determined location in Frankfort Township.  Orona arrived at the location believing he was going to meet up with the 14-year-old girl.   Detectives immediately took him into custody.  He was transported to the Investigations Division where he made several statements incriminating himself.  He was charged with traveling to meet a minor, grooming, and indecent solicitation of a child.     He is being held at the Adult Detention Facility and will appear in bond court today.  -end-

Last week, the Will County Sheriff's Office assisted the Illinois Liquor Control Commission in conducting compliance checks in the Village of Homer Glen.

   A total of 22 businesses licensed to sell liquor were visited.  We are happy to announce that every one of the businesses complied with Illinois liquor laws and refused to serve underage customers.  We commend the Homer Glen establishments, as well as all establishments, which do not sell liquor to minors.

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The Will County Sheriff's Office is announcing that the unidentified male has been found in the DesPlaines River, just south of the Ruby Street Bridge in Joliet.    This morning, the Sheriff's Office met with fire personnel from Joliet, Wilmington, Plainfield, and Romeoville in order to organize a more comprehensive search of a body after the discovery of a human leg yesterday.   Three teams of boats began their visual and sonar search of the DesPlaines River waterways around 11:30am today.   Joliet Fire Department located the body a short time after they began their search. 

The Will County Coroner's Office was called to the scene and took possession of the body.  It has been determined that the body appears to be related to the discovery of the human leg that was found yesterday at the Lockport Locks.  The Coroner's Office has announced that an autopsy will be held tomorrow, April 14th.  Positive identification of the individual is pending at this time and notification to the next of kin.  The final cause of death will be determined, by the Coroner, at a later date pending the autopsy, toxicology, and a thorough police investigation.   -end-