Oct. 19—DIXON — An Ashton teen has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the discovery of his 16-year-old girlfriend’s body Tuesday in the apartment they shared.
David J. Sosa, 17, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the strangulation death of Jaedyn A. Hill, who turned 16 on Oct. 6, Lee County Sheriff Clay Whelan said. Sosa, who turns 18 on Dec. 18, will be charged as an adult and is being held at the Kane County Juvenile Detention Center, Whelan said.
Hill’s death came to light Tuesday morning, when the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a call around 7 a.m. from Rochelle police that a teenager, later identified as Sosa, had walked into the police station lobby and said he was involved in the event of a murder and information provided. As a result, Lee County Sheriff’s deputies went to 702 Richardson Ave., Apt. A, in Ashton, to conduct a welfare check. Then they found Hill’s body in the apartment. Sosa and Hill, who were in a dating relationship, lived in the apartment, Whelan said.
An autopsy performed Wednesday morning at the Peoria County coroner’s office preliminarily determined that strangulation was Hill’s cause of death.
The charges carry penalties of 20 to 60 years in prison if convicted. Sosa made his first court appearance Wednesday morning; His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on Nov. 7 at 10:30 a.m. in Lee County Circuit Court.
The Lee County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Lee County Juvenile Probation Department, the Rochelle Police Department, the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, the Lee County Coroner’s Office and the Peoria County Coroner’s Office are assisting in the investigation. If anyone has information about the investigation, call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 815-284-6631 or Crimestoppers at 1-888-CAUGHT-U.
