Bond Denied for Indian Head Park Suspect

John Wilson Jr., 38, of Chicago was charged with first-degree murder and residential burglary

On the same day 14-year-old Kelli O'Laughlin was laid to rest, bond was denied for the man charged in the Indian Head Park teen's murder.

John Wilson Jr., 38, of Chicago was charged with first-degree murder and residential burglary, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez confirmed Friday. A judge Friday morning denied him bond.

During a Friday morning news conference, Alvarez expanded on the details of the case, saying Wilson allegedly made forced entry into the O'Laughlin home with a rock placed into a knit cap. The cap was left behind with blood on it and found by police, Alvarez said.

The house was found ransacked, and a bowl of coins, O'Laughlin's cell phone and an iPod Touch were stolen. O'Laughlin was found by her mother stabbed in the back, neck and chest, Alvarez said. A knife taken from a butcher block in the house was found by her body.

Three eye witnesses saw a man in the area between 2:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. the day of the murder and later identified Wilson in a lineup, Alvarez said.

The defendant fled, Alvarez said, called for a taxi and was dropped off at the Midway Orange Line CTA stop in Chicago. He paid using various coins stolen from the home, Alvarez said.

The investigation also revealed O'Laughlin's cell phone was used to send text messages of "taunting and disturbing nature" to her family within hours of the murder.

Wilson was apprehended on Chicago's South Side, Alvarez confirmed.

"There are really no words to describe how horrific this is," she said.

The teen's funeral is being held at St. John of the Cross Church, at 5005 Wolf Road in Western Springs.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said there are still a lot of leads to follow up on.

"This isn't ending," he said. "This will be an ongoing process."

Wilson has six previous convictions, Dart said, including aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated battery of a peace officer with a firearm, selling a stolen vehicle and controlled substance charges. He is on parole from the Pontiac Correctional Facility where he served eight years of an 11 year sentence for robbery of a school or place of worship, Dart said.

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