An unpaid debt by one of the five people found murdered inside a Chatham home may be at the root of the killings, sources said Tuesday. A home in the 7600 block of South Rhodes Avenue was the scene of a backyard barbeque April 22 that lasted into the wee
When one of the attendees returned to the home the next day, she found the back door ajar and the music blaring. She went inside, saw her friends%uFFFDtwo women and three men%uFFFDdead and called 911. Police have not determined when the massacre took place, but a source said a neighbor heard gunshots about 2:30 a.m., but did not call police.
Other neighborhood reports are that a large amount of cash%uFFFDin excess of $20,000%uFFFDand high end televisions and stereo systems were taken from the home before the bodies were discovered. While police declined to confirm or deny the allegations, they said the incident is isolated and robbery is the likely motive.
An investigation into whether a prostitution ring was being run out of the home is also underway. The victims%uFFFDall shot to death and discovered in the house that police said had been ransacked%uFFFDhave been identified as Lakesha Boss,17; Whitney Flowers, 22; Donovan Richardson, 24; Anthony Scales Jr., 27; and Reginald Walker, 23; according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Flowers and Richardson lived in the home. Neighbors said there was plenty of foot traffic in and out of the home during late night hours. However, there were no complaints filed with the alderman’s office, Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th) said hours after the bodies were found. The neighborhood’s police district commander also said no alarming activity has been reported to the police about the home.
“We ran that location and nothing came up. There was nothing that would have indicated that we would have problems at that address,” Gresham Dist. Cmdr. Eddie Johnson said. The neighborhood is peaceful and crime of that magnitude is highly unusual, said Vanessa Mathis.
“I’ve lived in this area for more than 20 years, and it’s always been quiet,” Mathis said. No one is in custody and Johnson said the community’s help will be key in solving the murders. Johnson urged people to call with any details they remember about the home before police arrived. “Anything that you deem suspicious, call the police so they can investigate it,” Johnson said. The smallest piece of information could be helpful in this case.
Also, to help prevent similar incidents from occurring, residents throughout the city should attend their beat meetings regularly and become active in their block clubs, he said. Cook County Crime Stoppers offered a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the assailant(s) responsible in the April 23 mass murder.
Anyone with information is urged to call police at 312- 747-8272, or Cook County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535- 7867.
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