Tag Archives: strangled

Autopsy reveals Crest Hill woman was strangled

(CHICAGO) An autopsy performed Wednesday revealed that a woman in southwest suburban Crest Hill was strangled, authorities said.

Laura Gonzalez, 22, was found unresponsive inside an apartment in the 1800 block of Marlboro Lane a few minutes before 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to Crest Hill Deputy Police Chief Ed Clark and the Will County coroner’s office.

She was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:38 p.m. An autopsy Wednesday determined the cause of death to be strangulation.

Her boyfriend, 27-year-old Cesar Garcia, was still inside the apartment when police arrived, Clark said. He was “incoherent” and was taken to Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Garcia and Gonzalez lived together in the apartment.

After investigating the scene and speaking with Garcia and witnesses, he was charged with first-degree murder, Clark said.

Garcia remains in the custody of the Will County sheriff’s office and is scheduled to appear in bond court Thursday.

He was previously arrested on a domestic battery charge in June, according to the sheriff’s office.