WCSO Press Releases

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is announcing the capture and arrest of Dieontae Ricky Sparks, age 19, of Plainfield.  Dieontae Ricky Sparks was arrested on May 2, 2019 in Atlanta, GA by members of the United States Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force. 

Sparks possesses a criminal history that includes arrests for weapons, robbery, and assault.  Sparks was wanted by the Romeoville Police Department in relation to a homicide that occurred on March 30, 2019.  Sparks was alleged to have been present during a homicide where the victim was shot at close range with a sawed off shotgun.  Romeoville Police obtained an arrest warrant for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon after recovering at Sparks’ residence, what is believed to be the murder weapon.  Sparks also had an active warrant for robbery and aggravated battery.    

On April 1, 2019, the Romeoville Police Department requested the assistance of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force (GLRFTF) in locating and apprehending Sparks.

Will County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Deputies, who are also assigned to the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, worked in conjunction with Romeoville Police for weeks to locate Sparks, who was aware of the warrant and believed to have fled Illinois.

A location was developed for Sparks in Atlanta, Georgia, and information was passed to the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force.  Investigators surveilled the house for days prior, and on May 2, 2019 approached the residence.  Sparks attempted to flee the residence, but was safely apprehended without further incident.  Sparks is currently housed in DeKalb County Jail in Decatur Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, where he awaits extradition proceedings.  Upon return to Illinois, Sparks is to then face murder charges.

The photograph of Sparks provided is from a 2018 arrest. 

Today, the Will County Sheriff’s, Investigations Unit, continued actively investigating the suspicious death of a body found deceased on W. Jefferson Street yesterday, 11/12/18.   The Will County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy today and have identified the victim as a female. Detectives are working on attempting to identify her.   Cause of death was also determined by the Coroner's Office and was confirmed that it was a homicide.  However,  because of details surrounding the death, detectives believe information released at this time could potentially jeopardize the investigation. For that reason, no further information will be released at this time.  Updates will be made when appropriate. 

 Jefferson Street is now open and detectives are no longer on scene.  Reminder to the public, the property in which the body was discovered is privately owned. No one is allowed on the property without the owner’s consent. 

Detectives continue to follow leads they have received from the public.  If anyone has information regarding this incident, please call the Investigations Unit at:   815-727-8574.

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Sheriff Mike Kelley would like to announce the recent arrests of Elijah J. Watson (Male, Black, age 23) of 28 NW Circle Drive in Joliet and Anthony Francimore (Male, White, age 20) of 2706 Dougall Road in Joliet,  in connection to a Murder Investigation.

On 10/28/2018, at approximately 1:00 AM, members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 500 Block of Fox Street in unincorporated Joliet Township in reference to a shooting.  Upon arrival, deputies observed a male individual lying face down in the roadway motionless, surrounded by unknown individuals. 

As deputies were securing the scene, East Joliet Fire Department arrived and began attempting life saving measures on the victim.  The victim, Nathan J. Ballard, (age 20) was transported to Silver Cross Hospital and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. 

A witness on scene advised responding deputies that the offenders were driving a black Dodge Magnum with tinted windows, and it was occupied by several individuals. Detectives were called to the scene and were able to track down numerous leads from witnesses and evidence recovered from the scene.

Information was developed by detectives that the suspect vehicle and potential suspects had fled to the City of Chicago. Will County Sheriff’s Detectives met with members of the 10th District of the Chicago Police Department and Chicago’s Fugitive Warrants Unit in reference to this investigation.  Will County Detectives briefed members of the Chicago Police Department and a physical search of the area where the vehicle was believed to be located was conducted. 

At approximately 12:30 PM the Black Dodge Magnum used in this homicide was located in the area of 14^th and Karlov in the City of Chicago. With the assistance of the Chicago Police Department, surveillance was set up on the vehicle.  At approximately 1:45 PM, a subject was seen entering the vehicle, and the vehicle began to leave the area. 

A traffic stop was conducted by Will County Detectives and members of the Chicago Police Department, and two subjects were taken into custody at that time.  Elijah J. Watson and Anthony Francimore had previously been identified as suspects in this investigation, and both were taken into custody without incident as a result of the traffic stop.  Both the suspects and the vehicle were later transported to the Will County Sheriff’s Public Safety Complex for further questioning and processing.

Numerous search warrants were obtained and executed in reference to this investigation, and detectives were able to further the investigation by interviewing the offenders. Detectives would later learn that the suspects in this case intended on robbing the victim, Nathan Ballard, and upon doing so and while driving away from the victim, several shots were fired in the vicinity of Ballard by Elijah Watson.  Ballard suffered a single gunshot wound to the upper chest, from what appears to be from a semi-automatic 9 mm handgun. 

Elijah J. Watson was charged with four (4) counts of First Degree Murder, one (1) count of Armed Robbery, and one (1) count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon. 

Anthony Francimore was charged with one (1) count of First Degree Murder and one (1) count of Armed Robbery.

The bond amount set for both offenders is $5,000,000-10% to apply.

Sheriff Mike Kelley would like to personally thank all the members of the Investigations Division for their commitment, dedication, and thoroughness in completing this investigation in such a timely manner. Sheriff Kelley would also like to thank the men and women of the Chicago Police Department in the 10^th District in providing assistance with this case.

This is still an active investigation, and additional information will be provided in this case when appropriate.

On 02/23/2018, at approximately 5:15 PM, Deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to 1500 block of California Avenue in reference to a possible deceased individual lying off the roadway.  The body was discovered by a group of juveniles walking along the roadway.  The crime scene was secured by Deputies and processed by Crime Scene Investigators.  Detectives with the Will County Sheriff's Office were also called to the scene to investigate the suspicious death.

The victim has been identified as Marrisa L. Koziel, age 21, formally of Manhattan, Illinois.  On 02/14/2018, Marrisa was reported being missing by family members to the Manhattan Police Department.  She was last seen by family members on 02/01/2018.

An autopsy was conducted on 02/24/2018 by the Will County Coroner's Office, and preliminary reports indicate that the cause of Marrisa's death was from a single gunshot wound.  Detectives continue to investigate this case as a Homicide Investigation.  As the investigation continues to develop, further updates will be provided when appropriate.  If anyone has any information in regards to this case, they are urged to contact the Will County Sheriff's Office Investigation Division at 815-727-8574.        

On 02/23/2017, at approximately 5:15 PM, Deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to 1500 block of California Avenue in reference to a possible deceased individual lying off the roadway.  Deputies were advised that several juveniles were walking alongside the roadway, when they observed what appeared to be a deceased body lying on the ground.  Upon locating the body, the group of juveniles dialed 911 and waited for Deputies to arrive. 

The subject was lying face down, unresponsive, and cold to the touch.  Department personnel contacted Deputies in Crime Scene Investigation and Detectives in Will County Investigations.  The area was secured by Deputies and the surrounding roads were shut down while the investigation was conducted. 

Initially, Deputies on scene were unable to determine an approximate age of the deceased individual due to the top half of her body being covered by an object.  The victim is a White Female, estimated between the ages of 18 to 25.  The scene was processed by Crime Scene Investigators and Detectives are following up on potential leads.

The autopsy is scheduled for 02/24/2018.  As this investigation continues to develop, additional information will be provided when appropriate.    

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.