Verna Tobicoe | Homicide Watch Chicagohttp://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/verna-tobicoe/Latest news about Verna Tobicoeen-usMon, 11 May 2015 09:09:36 -0500WEEK IN REVIEW: Six killed throughout Chicagohttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2015/05/11/week-in-review-six-killed-throughout-chicago-4/<p>BY MICHAEL LANSU<br /> Homicide Watch Chicago</p> <p>Six people were killed throughout Chicago last week, including a 53-year-old woman who was stabbed and a 5-year-old girl who was beaten to death.</p> <p>Two men were shot to death over the weekend, when at least 21 other people were wounded by gunfire.</p> <p>The most recent killing happened when 23-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/theo-hike/">Theo Hike</a> was shot multiple times in the 7400 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue in Greater Grand Crossing about 11:55 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.<br /> <span id="more-11150"></span><br /> Hike, of the 7300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, died early Sunday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.</p> <p>In Englewood, 22-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/marcus-d-franklin/">Marcus D. Franklin</a> was on a sidewalk in the 7200 block of South Green Street when a gunman walked up and repeatedly shot him in the chest and neck about 12:55 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.</p> <p>Franklin, of the 700 block of West 61st Street, was declared dead at Holy Cross Hospital less than an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.</p> <p>On Thursday, 28-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/antonio-galtney/">Antonio Galtney</a> was shot multiple times in the 7000 block of South Sangamon Street in Englewood about 7:25 p.m., authorities said.</p> <p>Galtney, of the 500 block of East 51st Street, died less than an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the medical examiner’s office.</p> <p>In the South Chicago community, 5-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/verna-tobicoe/">Verna Tobicoe</a> was found unresponsive at her home in the 8300 block of South Brandon Avenue about 12:15 p.m. Thursday and was declared dead at South Shore Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said.</p> <p>An autopsy determined Verna died from internal injuries from multiple blunt force impacts, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.</p> <p>Verna’s stepmother, 27-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/lisamarie-villasana/">Lisamarie Villasana</a>, was charged with first-degree murder and Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered her held without bond Saturday, authorities said.</p> <p>On Tuesday, 53-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/jerren-jackson/">Jerren Jackson</a> was stabbed to death at her home in the 6200 block of North Bell Avenue in the West Ridge community about 4 p.m., authorities said.</p> <p>Her son, 24-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/suspects/jerome-jackson/">Jerome Jackson</a>, was charged with first degree murder and is expected to appear in court Monday for a bond hearing, authorities said.</p> <p>The killing started when 26-year-old <a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/joseph-williams/">Joseph Williams</a> was stabbed to death during a fight with his girlfriend at his apartment in the 10700 block of South Bensley Avenue in the South Deering community about 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said.</p> <p>The girlfriend was initially taken into custody, but she was later released without being charged, police said.</p> <p>In 2015, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 132 Chicago deaths a homicide, including one person fatally shot by police.</p> Michael LansuMon, 11 May 2015 09:09:36 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2015/05/11/week-in-review-six-killed-throughout-chicago-4/Marcus D. FranklinAntonio GaltneyTheo HikeJerren JacksonVerna TobicoeJoseph WilliamsJerome JacksonLisamarie VillasanaProsecutors: Lisamarie Villasana beat 5-year-old stepdaughter to death in South Chicago homehttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2015/05/10/prosecutors-lisamarie-villasana-beat-5-year-old-stepdaughter-to-death-in-south-chicago-home/<img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/chicago/files/2015/05/LisamarieVillasana.jpg" alt="Lisamarie Villasana / Photo from Chicago Police" width="240" height="300" class="size-full wp-image-11142" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Lisamarie Villasana / Photo from Chicago Police</p> <p>A South Side woman has been charged with murder after her 5-year-old stepdaughter was found beaten to death at their South Chicago home Thursday. </p> <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/verna-tobicoe/">Verna Tobicoe</a> was found unresponsive at her home in the 8300 block of South Brandon Avenue about 12:15 p.m. Thursday and was declared dead at South Shore Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said.</p> <p>An autopsy determined Verna died from internal injuries from multiple blunt force impacts, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.</p> <p>Verna's stepmother, 27-year-old Lisamarie Villasana, was charged with first-degree murder and Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered her held without bond Saturday, authorities said.<br /> <span id="more-11141"></span><br /> Assistant State’s Attorney Justin Goldfarb said Verna suffered a lacerated liver, a subdural hematoma on the back of her head, lacerated intestines, multiple skull fractures, and had “fresh and older bruising,” including cigarette burns and a wound on the tip of her right index finger “consistent with a bite,” according to the Chicago Tribune.</p> <p><iframe src="http://homicides.suntimes.com/api/v1/homicides/1007.html" width="100%" height="350" frameborder=0></iframe></p> <p>An Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokeswoman had said that the agency was investigating Verna’s father and stepmother for allegations of abuse and neglect.</p> <p>The department had prior contact with the family when a 2014 report indicated the girl’s biological mother for neglect, according to the spokeswoman.</p> <p>Villasana will be back in court Monday.</p> <p>-- Sun-Times Media Wire</p> Michael LansuSun, 10 May 2015 11:06:28 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2015/05/10/prosecutors-lisamarie-villasana-beat-5-year-old-stepdaughter-to-death-in-south-chicago-home/Verna TobicoeLisamarie VillasanaVerna Tobicoe, 5, beaten to death in South Chicagohttp://homicides.suntimes.com/2015/05/08/verna-tobicoe-5-beaten-to-death-in-south-chicago/<p><iframe src="http://homicides.suntimes.com/api/v1/homicides/1007.html" width="100%" height="350" frameborder=0></iframe></p> <p>A 5-year-old girl was beaten to death in the South Chicago neighborhood Thursday.</p> <p><a href="http://homicides.suntimes.com/victims/verna-tobicoe/">Verna Tobicoe</a> was found unresponsive at her home in the 8300 block of South Brandon Avenue about 12:15 p.m. Thursday and was declared dead at South Shore Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said.</p> <p>An autopsy determined Verna died from internal injuries from multiple blunt force impacts, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.<br /> <span id="more-11137"></span><br /> The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is investigating allegations of abuse and neglect against Verna’s father and stepmother, DCFS spokeswoman Veronica Resa said.</p> <p>The department had prior contact with the family when a 2014 report indicated the girl’s biological mother for neglect, Resa said.</p> <p>Area South detectives are questioning family members, police said.</p> Michael LansuFri, 08 May 2015 15:49:02 -0500http://homicides.suntimes.com/2015/05/08/verna-tobicoe-5-beaten-to-death-in-south-chicago/Verna Tobicoe