Reward Increased in Teen's Fatal Stabbing

Kelli O'Laughlin was killed Thursday, possibly when she came upon a burglar in her home

A reward has grown to $20,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of whoever killed a 14-year-old Indian Head Park girl.

The money has come in from anonymous donors, police said, giving a sense to the level of concern in the community and the level of committment by police to find the killer.

Police confirmed Saturday that one man was in custody and being questioned, but not regarding the Thursday afternoon slaying. Instead, he was being questioned in connection with a rash of home invasion burglaries from over the summer.

"Somebody's out there that did this," Indian Head Park Police Chief Frank Alonzo said Saturday.

Still, he didn't completely rule out a possible connection between the man in custody and the death of 14-year-old Kelli O'Laughlin.

"It's still under investigation," he said.

Authorities said O'Laughlin was stabbed to death Thursday in her home in the 6300 block of Keokuk Road, east of Interstate 294 and south of Plainfield Road, possibly when she came upon a burglar in her home.

Photos of the only thing that was noticed to be taken from the home -- a collection of gold coins -- were released. Investigators are asking the public and pawn shops to be on the lookout for someone trying to get rid of them.

Police also circulated flyers with a suspect's description: a black man who stands about 5'8" or 5'9" tall between the ages of 25 and 35 with a medium build and wearing a dark hoodie.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Village of Indian Head Park Police Department at 708-246-4534.

Investigators are asking pawn shop owners to keep an eye out for these coins that were taken from the home.
Police released this sketch of a man with whom they'd like to speak.
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