Maria Gonzalez | Homicide Watch Chicago

Alberto Gaytan gets 30 years for fatally stabbing his ex, Maria Gonzalez, on Thanksgiving in 2013

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 12:28:13 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Alberto Gaytan | Illinois Dept. of Corrections

A man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Maria Gonzalez, to death outside her Northwest Side home on Thanksgiving Day in 2013.

Alberto Gaytan pleaded guilty to murder on Wednesday before Judge Erica Reddick, according to Cook County court records.

Gaytan stabbed his the 39-year-old Gonzalez about 5 a.m. Nov. 28, 2013, in the 4800 block of North Moody, authorities said.

Gaytan and Gonzalez had previously dated and had a four-year-old child together, according to court documents. About two months before her death, she had moved out of their home and into a basement apartment on Moody Avenue.

Gaytan had threatened to kill her if she left him for another man, and she did not tell him her new address, prosecutors said.

But on that Thanksgiving morning, Gaytan approached Gonzalez outside her new home as she left for work, authorities said. He grabbed her as she was about to get into her car and threw her to the ground, then stabbed her 11 times in the face and body.

One of the lacerations across her neck was almost deep enough to decapitate her, prosecutors said.

Police found Gonzalez in the street and she was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. An autopsy confirmed she died of multiple stab and incise wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Judge Reddick sentenced Gaytan to 30 years in prison, according to court records. He will receive credit for 987 days served in the Cook County Jail, and will have to serve three years of supervised release.

UPDATE: Alberto Gaytan stabbed ex-girlfriend 11 times outside her Northwest Side apartment, prosecutors said

Michael Lansu — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 15:50:30 -0600

Alberto Gaytan / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Alberto Gaytan stabbed his ex-girlfriend 11 times -- nearly decapitating her -- Thanksgiving morning outside her Northwest Side home, prosecutors said.

Gaytan, 42, is accused of attacking Maria Gonzalez about 5 a.m. Nov. 28 in the 4800 block of North Moody Avenue, authorities said.

Gonzalez and Gaytan previously dated, and the two had a 4-year-old child, according to court documents. About two months ago, she moved out of their home and into a basement apartment on Moody Avenue, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Maura White said.

Gaytan threatened to kill her if she left him for another man, and she did not tell him her new address, White said.

The morning of the attack, Gaytan approached Gonzalez outside her new home as she left for work, authorities said. He grabbed her as she was about to get in her car and threw her to the ground, White said.

Gaytan stabbed her “approximately 11 times about the face and body, including a deep laceration across the neck that was deep enough to almost decapitate the victim,” White said.

Police found Gonzalez in the street and she was declared dead on the scene, authorities said. An autopsy confirmed she died of multiple stab and incised wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Witnesses heard Gonzalez scream and saw a man matching Gaytan’s description take her purse and flee in a red Chevrolet Cavalier, according to court documents.

Gaytan’s red Cavalier had the woman’s blood on the steering wheel, door and window, White said. Police later arrested Gaytan at his home.

He told officers he did not know where his ex-girlfriend lived, but was found to be in possession of a card with her new address written on the back, White said.

Gaytan entered the country illegally and was turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on an active illegal re-entry, White said. Gaytan was previously deported in 2008.

When DNA taken from the blood in the car matched that of Gonzalez an arrest warrant for the murder was issued, according to court documents.

Gaytan, 42, of the 3000 block of West Ainslie Street, was taken into custody Dec. 11 and charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.

He appeared before Judge Israel Desierto in a black sweatshirt and blue jeans. He was ordered held without bond and given a next court date of Jan. 2.

Gaytan has lived in Chicago for 25 years and has worked at Al’s Beef the past seven years, his public defender said. He has only attended grammar school and lives here with his family.

Alberto Gaytan charged with murder in Northwest Side stabbing death of Maria Gonzalez

Michael Lansu — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 09:48:48 -0600

Alberto Gaytan / Photo from Chicago Police

Alberto Gaytan has been charged with murder for allegedly stabbing a woman to death during a Thanksgiving Day domestic attack on the Northwest Side.

Gaytan, 42, of the 3000 block of West Ainslie Street, is accused of killing 39-year-old Maria Gonzalez on Nov. 28, authorities said. Police believe the attack is domestic related.

Police found Gonzalez in the street near her home in the 4800 block of North Moody Avenue about 5 a.m., authorities said. She was declared dead on the scene a short time later.

An autopsy determined she died from multiple stab and incised wounds and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Gaytan is scheduled to appear in bond court later Thursday.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

WEEK IN REVIEW: Five murdered throughout Chicago last week

Michael Lansu — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 08:46:13 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Five people were killed in murders throughout the city last week.

The most recent murder happened when police found 24-year-old Sherod Nesbitt lying on the ground in the 11100 block of South Vernon Avenue about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said. Nesbitt, of the 11100 block of South Longwood Drive, was shot in the head multiple times and died less than an hour later Roseland Community Hospital.

In the East Garfield Park neighborhood, two men approached 27-year-old Gentiles Williamson near his home in the 3100 block of West Arthington Street and one of the men shot him in the chest three times at 12:37 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

On the Northwest Side, police found 39-year-old Maria Gonzalez in the street near her home in the 4800 block of North Moody Avenue about 5 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. An autopsy determined she died of multiple stab and incised wounds, and police are investigating if the killing was domestic-related.

In the Rogers Park neighborhood, police found 30-year-old Mark Villanueva dead in an alley in the 7500 block of North Greenview Avenue, authorities said. Villanueva, of the 7600 block of North Bosworth Avenue, was shot in the face and chest and was dead on the scene.

In the East Garfield Park community, 32-year-old LaChris Hendricks was killed in an alleged shootout in the 2900 block of West Jackson Boulevard about 12:15 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Hendricks, of the 1200 block of West 48th Court, and a 30-year-old man allegedly shot each other, authorities said. Police found Hendricks in the street near South Sacramento Boulevard and West Adams Street with gunshot wounds to the chest, arm and hand.

The other man was shot in the right leg and treated at Mount Sinai Hospital, police said. No charges have been filed in the exchange of gunfire.

Chicago Police reported 380 murders through November, a 20 percent decrease in murders from the same time period in 2012.

Autopsy: Maria Gonzalez found stabbed to death on Northwest Side

Michael Lansu — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 15:54:51 -0600

Maria Gonzalez was found stabbed to death Thursday morning on a Northwest Side street.

Police found Gonzalez, 39, in the street near her home in the 4800 block of North Moody Avenue about 5 a.m., authorities said. She was declared dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

She suffered “visible trauma” and police initially said she may have been beaten to death in a domestic incident, police said.

A Friday autopsy determined Gonzalez died of multiple stab and incised wounds, according to the medical examiner's office. The death was ruled a homicide.

Nobody has been charged for the death.

Area North detectives are investigating.

Maria Gonzalez possibly beaten to death outside Northwest Side home

Michael Lansu — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 21:04:22 -0600

Maria Gonzalez was found beaten to death Thursday morning on a Northwest Side street.

Police found Gonzalez, 39, in the street near her home in the 4800 block of North Moody Avenue about 5 a.m., authorities said. She was declared dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

She suffered "visible trauma" and may have been beaten to death in a domestic incident, police said. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday, according to the medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the death.

Area North detectives are investigating.