Chicago woman charged with killing Rockford car salesman during test drive
CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — A Chicago-area woman has been arrested and charged with the murder of Rockford car salesman Crisoforo Osorio Gonzalez, 35.
According to prosecutors, Rosie Chavez, 38, of Berwyn, has been charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Chavez was on pretrial release for two criminal cases, one involving felony aggravated battery of a police officer and retail theft.
She was arrested last week and appeared for her detention hearing on Sunday, March 31st.
According to prosecutors, Chavez and an accomplice arrived at 21st Auto Sales in Rockford, at 2506 Broadway, around 4:50 p.m. on February 9th. They were driving a stolen Kia, according to authorities.
Surveillance video allegedly showed a second accomplice arriving in a stolen Honda.
Prosecutors said Chavez, the first accomplice, and Gonzalez got into a red Ford Escape and went on a test drive, with Gonzalez riding in the back.
The Ford reportedly pulled over a short distance away and the Honda pulled up alongside them.
Authorities said the surveillance video showed someone trying to open the rear door of the SUV as both cars left the scene together.
The Ford crashed into a sign at the entrance ramp to Highway 20, and witnesses reported seeing Gonzalez lying motionless on the side of the road.
Authorities said Chavez and the accomplices placed Gonzalez in the Honda’s trunk and sped off.
Illinois State Police found the Ford abandoned near I-294 and I-88 sometime later. Prosecutors said three shell casings, zip ties, blood spatter, and a strand of hair and scalp were found inside the car.
Eight hours later, surveillance video taken in the 3600 block of West 26th Street in Chicago, showed Chavez and the first accomplice remove Gonzalez’s body from the trunk, police said.
He had been shot in the head and back. His wrists showed marks consistent with being zip-tied, according to authorities.
Police found the stolen Kia abandoned at the Rockford dealership. Inside, they found a credit card belonging to the accomplice, as well as shell casings from a firearm that matched the gun used to kill Gonzalez, according to authorities.
Prosecutors did not give any motive for the murder.
Chavez was previously convicted of robbery in 1998 and retail thefts in 2010 and 2014.
According to the Sun-Times, she has worked as an accountant for a relative’s income tax firm.
A GoFundMe was started to help Gonzalez’ family members with expenses.