Polce in Illinois have alleged a pregnant mother and her unborn child were killed on Saturday, January 24, by a 19-year-old man who’d recently purchased a used truck from her husband.
The killing in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove, according to investigators.
Authorities have identified the victim as Eliza Morales, who was just 30 — and five months pregnant.
Detectives have arrested Nedas Revuckas on six murder counts for killing Morales and the baby she was carrying. He was also arrested on armed robbery, aggravated arson, intentional homicide of an unborn child and aggravated cruelty to animals.
Police said that Revuckas cried after he was apprehended, and that he confessed to the killing. A statement claims he even directed them to where he stashed his bloody clothes.
Investigators contend in court documents shared with Us Weekly, Revuckas had purchased a pickup truck from Morales’ husband via Facebook Marketplace on Saturday. He returned on Monday, January 26, to collect a bill of sale for the vehicle.
Instead, police alleged Revuckas told them he got into a fight with Morales over the condition of the truck before he attacked her with a knife. Authorities alleged he then lit the couple’s apartment on fire.
The cruelty to animals charge stems from Revuckas allegedly stabbing and kicking the Morales’ family dog. The pit bull — who is said to have tried coming to the young mother’s defense — escaped the apartment fire and is said to be recovering from her injuries.
Revuckas is being held without bond and has not yet entered pleas to the charges against him. He does not yet have an attorney.
He has his next court hearing scheduled for February 18.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Eliza’s family in the aftermath of the terrible tragedy.
“Eliza leaves behind a devoted husband and a precious, beautiful two-year-old daughter,” according to the GoFundMe description. “She came into our lives with a kindness that felt effortless. She was the type of person who would give the shirt off her back to a stranger. Her generosity wasn’t an act — it was her nature.”
It continued that Eliza was a devoted mother who was “gentle, patient, and fiercely committed to her family.” It also noted “she worked hard, not for recognition, but because she believed in building a strong, loving foundation for her family. Everything she did was rooted in love. She was motivated by family, driven by loyalty, and guided by a heart that was truly selfless. Her loss is a pain that sits deep within all of us, but her presence remains in every memory, every lesson, every moment she touched. She taught us what it means to give without hesitation, to love without conditions, and to live with sincerity.”
The victim’s family gathered for a vigil outside Morales’ home Thursday night. They remembered Morales as a loving mother to a 1-and-a-half–year-old daughter and someone who always cooked and cared for others.
“I know she’s a sweetheart, and she didn’t deserve this, and it’s just too painful, and honestly, you just don’t ever expect this to happen,” said her cousin, Carolina Castro, speaking to CBS Chicago. “I’m just there for my uncle, her sisters, everybody.”
