Cherie Adams | Homicide Watch Chicago

Friend mourns 'second mother' Cherie Adams killed in fire

John Carpenter — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:52:36 -0500

STEFANO ESPOSITO
Chicago Sun-Times

For days now, Rochelle Pinex’s 8-year-old daughter has been begging her for a weekend visit to see “Nana.”

Pinex doesn’t know what she’ll tell her daughter, after Nana — 42-year-old Cherie Adams and Adams ’ daughter — were found stabbed to death in a burning Chatham home Wednesday.

“I don’t know who in their right state of mind would want to do anything to them,” said a weeping Pinex, 28, who lives in Harvey.

Adams and her daughter, Curtria Duncan, 24, were stabbed before the fire in their home, in the 8100 block South Maryland, was intentionally set about 3:45 p.m., investigators said. Both women were found in a bathroom in the residence.

Adams was beaten and stabbed multiple times, according to a Thursday autopsy. Duncan died from “homicidal asphyxia” and multiple stab wounds.

Pinex said Adams , who dated Pinex’s father for 20 years, was like a second mother. Pinex said Adams helped raise her along with Pinex’s other siblings.

Pinex said she spoke regularly to Adams and can’t understand why anyone would want to hurt the very private woman and her daughter, who was a radiology student at Kennedy-King College. But Pinex also said Adams had recently expressed concerns about someone trying to break into her home.

“Last time I chit-chatted with her, she said someone was trying to come through her window at night,” Pinex said.

Pinex said she is grateful Duncan’s 3-year-old son was staying with his father and wasn’t at home Wednesday.

“I couldn’t imagine if the baby was in the house,” Pinex said.

The case remained under investigation Thursday morning, with no arrests.

-- Contributing: James Scalzitti

Police say man admits killing two women in fire

John Carpenter — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:48:02 -0500

Chicago Sun-Times (IL) - Sunday, February 24, 2013

Author/Byline: TINA SFONDELES AND BECKY SCHLIKERMAN ; Staff Reporters

As police drove Thadeus Ridley to a hospital for psychiatric treatment, he allegedly told them they were taking him to the wrong place.
“I should be going to 26th and California” — the site of Leighton Criminal Courts building and the Cook County Jail, authorities said Ridley told the cops.

Then, unprovoked, Ridley confessed to the murder of two women, authorities said.

“I did the murders,” he said.

Ridley, 25, was ordered held without bail Saturday in the deaths of Cherie Adams , 42, and her daughter Curtria Duncan, 24.

Prosecutors did not offer a motive for the killings, though they said Ridley had dated Duncan.

The bodies were discovered early Wednesday in a burning Chatham home. Firefighters found Duncan in the bathtub — she had been stabbed twice and smothered. Adams was on the bathroom floor — she had been stabbed an estimated 60 times. They’d been attacked before the fire was set to conceal the murders, police said.

On Friday, police were called to a report of a suicidal man at Ridley’s South Shore apartment, prosecutors said. When they forced their way inside, officers allegedly found a chair on fire and Ridley holding a sword and two military knives. Police also said they found Ridley in his apartment with heavy metal music blaring.

When he was transported by police, Ridley “spontaneously told officers specific information implicating himself in the involvement of the murders of the two women,” Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said Saturday.

A relative told the Sun-Times Ridley is mentally ill and was discharged from the Navy because of his illness.

“Our family is very heartbroken for the victims more than anything. We are good people and we don’t support any type of crime against innocent people, especially women,” the relative said.

An assistant public defender said Ridley works as a chef instructor for the Chicago Public Schools.

Contributing: James Scalzitti

Cherie Adams, daughter Curtria Duncan found stabbed to death in burning Chatham home

Michael Lansu — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:45:47 -0600

Cherie Adams and Curtria Duncan were found stabbed to death inside a burning Chatham building Wednesday.

Firefighters found the bodies of Adams, 42, and Duncan, 24, in a bathroom after entering the burning building in the 8100 block of South Maryland Avenue, authorities said. Relatives identified the pair as mother and daughter, and said they lived in the home.

An autopsy determined Adams was beaten and stabbed multiple times, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Duncan died from “homicidal asphyxia” and multiple stab wounds.

The fire, which started about 3:45 p.m., was quickly extinguished, fire department spokesman Larry Langford said.

Firefighters called police when they found the pair dead inside, Langford said.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media