Two arrested for concealing death of woman found in Kankakee River

By: 
Staff Report

Two men have been arrested for concealing the death of a woman whose body was found July 8 in the Kankakee River off the 29000 block of Readman Lane in Wilmington.

The Illinois State Police was called in to investigate after a homeowner spotted the body about 40 feet from shore. She was described as a white female aproximately 30 years old. An autopsy conducted by the Will County coroner on Monday, July 10, was inconclusive concerning the cause of death.

The woman was positively identified Aug. 15 as Martha "Tica" Sanchez, 24, of Chicago. She had last been seen on Chicago's northwest side on July 4.

As a result of the investigation by the Illinois State Police, Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow and the Blue Island Police Department, two men have been apprehended in connection with Sanchez's death.

Jonathan "Jon Jon" Rodriguez, 29, of Blue Island, and Esteban "Steve" Rodriguez, 27, of Wilmingotn, have been charged with concealment of a death, a Class 4 felony, and intimidation, a Class 3 felony. When taken into custody, Esteban was armed with a loaded handgun.

They were booked into the Will County Adult Detention Center in Joliet on Wednesday, Aug. 16. Both men are being held on $1 million bond.

The investigation is ongoing.

Editor's note: Individuals named in police reports are innocent of any charges until proven guilty in a court of law.