A suburban Chicago mother who was five months pregnant was fatally stabbed about 70 times after a Facebook Marketplace meetup at her apartment, and a 19-year-old man is charged with murder and arson in the attack, authorities said. The suspect was ordered held without bond as investigators detailed a dispute tied to a truck sale and recovered evidence from the scene and nearby locations.
Police said the killing unfolded after a transaction arranged online led a teen to the victim’s Downers Grove home to finalize paperwork connected to a used pickup. Officials identified the victim as Eliza Morales, 30, a payroll worker and mother of a two-year-old. Prosecutors said the suspect, identified in court as Nedas Revuckas, became enraged about the vehicle’s condition, attacked Morales inside her apartment and later set a fire before fleeing. The case has drawn wide attention for its brutality, the death of Morales’ unborn child and a swift series of court hearings that placed the teen in jail as detectives continue gathering surveillance video, interviews and forensic results.
Officers and firefighters responded within minutes after smoke was reported from the building and found Morales with multiple stab wounds; she was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. Investigators said the family dog was also stabbed but survived after running from the apartment. A preliminary review of building cameras and nearby business footage documented the teen’s arrival and movements around the time of the attack, according to law enforcement briefings. Relatives said Morales had been preparing dinner before the doorbell rang. “This was pure evil,” said Angelica Silva, Morales’ mother-in-law, who addressed mourners at a candlelight vigil outside the complex.
Court filings summarize a timeline: a Facebook Marketplace listing for a 1994 Ford Ranger, messages arranging a plate exchange at the apartment, an argument when the buyer arrived, and a struggle that left the victim with dozens of wounds. Prosecutors said the teen took items from the home, including cards and identification, and attempted to burn the unit to destroy evidence. Detectives later reported recovering bloody clothing and other materials during searches. Authorities also said the victim reportedly told her attacker she was pregnant during the assault, a statement included in charging documents. Officials have not released the total number of people inside the building at the time, and no other residents were reported injured.
The teen faces counts of first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, aggravated arson and armed robbery, along with animal cruelty related to the stabbing of the dog, according to charging documents. He appeared in bond court where a judge ordered him held without pretrial release. Prosecutors told the court that electronic data, surveillance footage and physical evidence connect the teen to the apartment and the aftermath. Defense counsel listed on the docket did not enter a plea beyond standard not-guilty positioning at this stage. Officials have not announced additional suspects, and they said early indications point to a single assailant.
Downers Grove, a village in DuPage County about 20 miles west of downtown Chicago, has seen a surge of doorbell and corridor cameras in recent years, which investigators routinely canvass after serious crimes. In this case, authorities collected video from the building, nearby streets and a parking area where a vehicle linked to the teen was seen. Fire investigators documented burn patterns and accelerant traces inside the unit, while police evidence technicians photographed a trail of blood and bagged jewelry, documents and other items as potential exhibits. The apartment complex remained taped off into the next day as residents stopped by to leave flowers and speak with officers posted at the entrance.
Relatives described Morales as patient and upbeat, a devoted mother expecting a second child this spring. A vigil earlier in the week drew neighbors and coworkers who carried candles and left stuffed animals near the stairwell. Friends said she and her husband had recently listed the old truck to make room in the lot for a replacement and had arranged to swap plates and finalize paperwork before dinner. “She always put others first,” Silva said at the gathering. “We’re leaning on each other to get through this.” Community members who attended the vigil said they were shaken by the case’s details and the swiftness with which a routine handoff turned into a crime scene.
Authorities said a recent court update noted the defendant had been treated for self-inflicted injuries sustained in custody and later returned to jail under medical clearance. Prosecutors are expected to present the case to a grand jury in the coming days. The court calendar next includes a status hearing to set discovery deadlines for lab reports, video extractions and transcripts of key witness interviews. Investigators said they continue to trace the path of the knife used in the attack and to reconcile camera time stamps with call logs, apartment entry data and fire-response records. Officials have not publicly identified a definitive motive beyond anger over the vehicle’s condition described in charging summaries.
Police and prosecutors said they will release further details as additional records are filed, including full autopsy findings and complete evidence inventories. The apartment building has reopened to residents, though the victim’s unit remains sealed pending additional tests. Memorial plans will be announced by the family, who asked for privacy as they prepared services. The investigation is active, and the next court milestone is expected later this week when prosecutors outline charges before a grand jury.
Author note: Last updated February 2, 2026.