Man gets 39 years for 'brutal' stabbing death of April Dixon in 2013 in Douglas

Jeff Mayes — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 12:16:13 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Chandus Ousley | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A man has been sentenced to 39 years in prison for stabbing April Dixon over 25 times in her South Side Douglas neighborhood apartment, where a janitor later found her “butchered” body, according to prosecutors.

Chandus Ousley, 32, was previously convicted of the “grisly” Sept. 21, 2013, murder of April Dixon, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Ousley entered the 24-year-old Dixon’s apartment in the 3500 block of South Rhodes and stabbed her a total of 28 times, prosecutors said.

Three days later, Dixon’s mother asked the janitor to check on her daughter because she had not shown up to work or answered her phone for 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 latent fingerprint found in a pool of blood during processing of the crime scene later matched Ousley, as did DNA from biological material from underneath the victim’s fingernails, prosecutors said.

Ousley occasionally stayed in the apartment building with a girlfriend who was a neighbor of the victim; and had been seen in an elevator with Dixon on the night of the murder, prosecutors said.

Judge Carol Howard sentenced Ousley to 39 years in prison during a hearing Friday.

He previously served prison time for possession of a stolen vehicle, and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, according to court documents.

Chandus Ousley charged with fatally stabbing April Dixon in her South Side apartment

Michael Lansu — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 16:27:41 -0600

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.

Chandus Ousley | Homicide Watch Chicago

Man gets 39 years for 'brutal' stabbing death of April Dixon in 2013 in Douglas

Chandus Ousley charged with fatally stabbing April Dixon in her South Side apartment