Mary Jones was a 32-year-old single mother who lived in a small apartment in downtown Chicago with her 8-year-old son, Tommy. She worked as a waitress at a local diner and struggled to make ends meet. She had no enemies, no criminal record, and no apparent motive for anyone to harm her. Yet, on the night of February 14, 2023, she was brutally murdered in her own home.
The killer entered her apartment through the unlocked front door, sometime between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., when Mary was asleep on the couch. He stabbed her multiple times in the chest and neck with a kitchen knife, then dragged her body to the bathroom and left her in the bathtub. He also ransacked the apartment, taking some cash, jewellery, and electronics. He did not touch Tommy, who was sleeping in his bedroom, unaware of the horror that had occurred.
The next morning, Tommy woke up and went to look for his mother. He found her lifeless in the bathtub, covered in blood. He screamed and ran to the neighbour's apartment, where he called 911. The police arrived shortly after and secured the crime scene. They also interviewed Tommy and the neighbour, who said they did not hear or see anything suspicious the night before. The police collected some evidence, such as fingerprints, DNA, and the murder weapon, and sent them to the lab for analysis.
The case was assigned to Detective James Carter, a veteran homicide investigator who had solved many high-profile cases in his career. He reviewed the evidence and the victim's background, looking for clues and leads. He also questioned Tommy again, hoping to get more details from the traumatized boy. Tommy told him that his mother had a boyfriend named Mike, who sometimes visited them and brought them gifts. He said Mike was nice to him and his mother, and that they had plans to go to the zoo on Valentine's Day. He also said that Mike had a tattoo of a snake on his arm, and that he drove a red car.
Detective Carter ran a background check on Mike, whose full name was Michael Smith. He found out that he was a 35-year-old ex-convict who had served time for robbery and assault. He also had a history of domestic violence and drug abuse. He had met Mary at the diner where she worked, and had been dating her for about six months. He had a criminal record, but no alibi for the night of the murder. He became the prime suspect in the case.
Detective Carter tracked down Mike's address and went to arrest him. He found him at his apartment, where he was packing a suitcase. He also found the stolen items from Mary's apartment, as well as some blood-stained clothes. He arrested Mike and brought him to the station for interrogation. He confronted him with the evidence and the motive: he had killed Mary because she wanted to break up with him and he was jealous and angry. He also wanted to rob her of her valuables and flee the state.
Mike denied everything, claiming that he loved Mary and that he was innocent. He said he had an alibi: he was at a bar with some friends the night of the murder. He said he had witnesses who could vouch for him. He also said that the blood on his clothes was from a fight he had with a rival gang member, and that the stolen items were from a pawn shop. He said he was packing because he was going on a vacation with Mary and Tommy.
Detective Carter did not believe him. He checked his alibi and found out that it was false: none of his friends could confirm his whereabouts, and the bar's surveillance footage showed that he was not there. He also checked the pawn shop and found out that it was closed the night of the murder. He also matched his fingerprints and DNA to the ones found at the crime scene. He had enough evidence to charge him with first-degree murder and robbery.
He presented his case to the prosecutor, who agreed to take it to trial. He also contacted Tommy's relatives, who agreed to take custody of him. He hoped that justice would be served for Mary and her son, and that they would find peace and closure.
The trial began in April 2023, and lasted for two weeks. The prosecution presented the evidence and the motive, and called Tommy as a key witness. Tommy identified Mike as his mother's boyfriend, and described his tattoo and his car. He also testified that he saw Mike leave their apartment the night of the murder, carrying a bag. He said he heard his mother scream, but he was too scared to go out of his room. He said he loved his mother and missed her very much.
The defence tried to cast doubt on the evidence and the motive, and argued that Mike was framed by someone else. They also tried to discredit Tommy's testimony, saying that he was coached by the police and that he was confused and traumatized. They also suggested that Mary had other lovers, and that one of them could have killed her. They said Mike was a changed man, who had reformed his life and loved Mary and Tommy.
The jury deliberated for three hours, and returned with a verdict: guilty on all counts. Mike was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He showed no remorse, and maintained his innocence. He said he would appeal the verdict, and that he would prove his innocence.
Detective Carter was satisfied with the outcome. He felt that he had done his job, and that he had honoured Mary's memory. He also felt sorry for Tommy, who had lost his mother and his innocence. He hoped that he would recover from the trauma, and that he would have a happy and normal life. He visited him at his relatives' house, and gave him a hug. He told him that he was proud of him, and that he was always there for him. He also gave him a gift: a ticket to the zoo, where he could see the animals he loved. He smiled and thanked him, and said he would go with his aunt and uncle. He also said he hoped to see him again.
Detective Carter smiled back, and said he would see him again. He wished him well, and left. He got in his car, and drove away. He looked at the sky, and said a silent prayer for Mary. He hoped she was in a better place, and that she was watching over her son. He also hoped that one day, he would find peace and happiness. He drove on, to his next case.
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