Chandus Ousley / Photo from Chicago Police
BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor
A South Side man has been charged with murder after DNA evidence allegedly linked him to a Douglas area home where April Dixon was found stabbed to death.
Chandus Ousley, 29, of the 3500 block of South Rhodes Avenue, was charged with one count of first-degree murder for allegedly fatally stabbing neighbor April Dixon to death in September, authorities said.
On Sept. 23, Dixon’s mother asked the janitor to check on her daughter because she had not shown up to work or answered her phone for two days, prosecutors said.
The janitor found Dixon face down on the living room floor in a pool of blood and called police, prosecutors said. Police also found blood splattered on the furniture and walls.
Dixon, who prosecutors said was partially unclothed, died of multiple stab wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
A friend described Dixon as an energetic, humble and kind person. She said Dixon grew up in Chicago and loved fashion and shopping.
Police recovered a fingerprint from a pool of dried blood inside the apartment and DNA from Dixon’s fingernails, prosecutors said. Both matched Ousley, who was the last person seen with Dixon in the elevator of her building Sept. 21, prosecutors said.
On Tuesday, Judge James Brown ordered Ousley held on $2 million bond. He will be back in court Dec. 9.
Ousley has previously been sentenced to prison for possession of a stolen vehicle and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, according to court documents.