Prosecutors: Matthew Rosario fatally stabbed Lucy Wrobel, 53, after being kicked out of Brighton Park apartment

Michael Lansu — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 13:39:24 -0500

Matthew Rosario / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A Brighton Park man allegedly stabbed a woman to death because she kicked him out of her apartment.

Matthew Rosario also set 53-year-old Lucy Wrobel’s residence on fire, leaving her battered body on the couch, Cook County prosecutors said.

Her corpse was covered with a wooden door that had a lighter on top, Assistant State’s Attorney Claire Savaglio said.

Police officers also found propane torch on the floor and a steel claw hammer under the couch on Feb. 7, Savaglio said.

Wrobel suffered multiple stab wounds to her neck and blunt trauma to her head.

A month before, Wrobel let Rosario and another person stay in her first floor apartment in the 2500 block of West 45th Place, Savaglio said.

But in the week leading to her murder, Wrobel told her son -- who lives in the second floor of the two-flat -- that she kicked Rosario, 28, out and didn’t want him coming back, Savaglio said.

Hours before she was killed, Wrobel’s son woke up to the sound of broken glass and allegedly saw Rosario standing on the crate climbing into Wrobel’s apartment.

Rosario assured the son that Wrobel, who had a substance abuse problem, was “dope sick,” so the son went back to his apartment and fell asleep, Savaglio said.

When he woke up the next afternoon, he smelled the smoke wafting into his apartment and called 911.

Rosario allegedly admitted he stabbed Wrobel and took all his clothes to his brother’s house, telling him Wrobel had been stabbed and that her house was on fire.

Rosario, of the 4600 block of South Washtenaw Avenue, has previous convictions for burglary and attempted burglary.

Judge Donald Panarese ordered Rosario held in lieu of $2 million bond Friday.

Matthew Rosario charged with murder in Brighton Park stabbing death of 53-year-old Lucy Wrobel

Michael Lansu — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 09:01:38 -0500

Matthew Rosario / Photo from Chicago Police

Matthew Rosario has been charged for allegedly stabbing 51-year-old Lucy Wrobel to death in the Brighton Park neighborhood in February.

Rosario, 28, of the 4600 block of South Washtenaw Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and is expected to appear for a bond hearing later Thursday, authorities said.

Firefighters found Wrobel dead in her burning home in the 2500 block of West 45th Place Feb. 7, authorities said.

Wrobel was stabbed in her neck and had head trauma, authorities said. An autopsy found she died of multiple injuries from a physical assault and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

-- Sun Times Media Wire

Matthew Rosario | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Matthew Rosario fatally stabbed Lucy Wrobel, 53, after being kicked out of Brighton Park apartment

Matthew Rosario charged with murder in Brighton Park stabbing death of 53-year-old Lucy Wrobel