A 24-year-old man from Illinois has been arrested in connection with the death of a 61-year-old woman.
On August 30, police discovered Reese Miller driving the victim’s blue Toyota Scion nearly three hours after she was found with a zip-tie around her neck.
Ma L. Operio was discovered outside her home in Harwood Heights at about 6:30 am. First responders removed the zip-tie, administered CPR, and transported her to a nearby hospital. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was placed on life support and passed away on September 3 after her family chose to discontinue life support measures.
In the stolen vehicle, a note from Miller expressed his regret, stating, “I am deeply sorry for hurting anyone at the moment; it seemed to be the only choice.”
During the investigation, a neighbor informed police they had seen a man, presumably Miller, choking a woman early that morning. After the alleged attack, the man drove away in her car.
Doorbell camera recordings obtained during the inquiry showed a person resembling Miller, wearing clothes similar to what he had on during his apprehension. When questioned, Miller confirmed he was the individual in the footage. He also acknowledged ownership of a knife found in the car and explained he had moved Operio’s body to avoid running her over.
After being informed of his rights, Miller gave a statement admitting to his actions. He now faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking. He is currently in Cook County Jail with a court appearance scheduled for September 22. According to his legal representative, the suspect has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
