Dec. 04--Funeral services for a mother and her teenage son will be held Sunday, a week after authorities said they were found beaten to death at their home in Beach Park.
Visitation for Lailani Uy, 43, and Patrick Kyle Cruz-Uy, 14, is from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Road in Zion. A wake will be held at 4 p.m. and a funeral service at 7 p.m.
Both were found dead at their home around 2:50 a.m. Sunday, allegedly beaten to death by Uy's husband, Armando Trejo Jr., after an argument, according to prosecutors.
On Monday, Trejo was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery in Lake County circuit court, where bail was set at $5 million. If found guilty he would face life in prison, said Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim.
Patrick graduated last year from Jack Benny Middle School in Waukegan, transferred to Zion-Benton Township High School this fall, then returned to District 60 and Waukegan High School earlier this month, said district spokesman Nick Alajakis.
He was two days shy of his 15th birthday, according to Lake County authorities.
Gina Villaruz, a teacher at Waukegan High School who knew the family, remembered the boy as a respectful, reserved teenager who loved basketball and played in a local league for Filipino-Americans in 2013 and 2014.
"He was really a nice young man," said Villaruz, who also chairs the league.
Jeisler Salunga, who coached Patrick's team in 2013, said he was shy and quiet but also someone who "looked to help however he could."
Salunga recalled turning to him on the sideline before substituting him in during one game and telling him he needed to play the strongest defense of his life. Patrick said, "OK, coach," with no hesitation, Salunga said.
His mother was a "very nice and a quiet lady" who had recently worked at a supermarket and as a home caregiver, Villaruz said.
Salunga said Lailani Uy was generous, always trying to pay him for giving Patrick rides to games and practices, even though he'd told her it wasn't necessary.
A family friend who said she works with Uy's mother and sister set up a fundraiser at www.gofundme.com/lani-kyle to help pay for funeral and travel expenses for family members, several of whom live in the Philippines.
Uy and Patrick moved to the U.S. about six years ago, in part to give Patrick, who was interested in electronics and technology, better educational opportunities, said the friend, who asked not to be named because she said it's a sensitive case and she didn't want to identify her employer.
Det. Christopher Covelli with the Lake County sheriff's office said Patrick had been living with his mother's parents before moving in with his mother and Trejo about three weeks ago.
As Trejo attacked his mother, Patrick ran to warn Trejo's parents before trying to intervene, prosecutors said. Trejo's 68-year-old mother also tried to stop her son, but he beat her as well, breaking her arm, according to prosecutors.
Both Patrick and Uy died of injuries caused by blunt force trauma due to assault, said Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Orlando Portillo. The coroner's office is waiting on additional tests and reports from investigators before determining the official manner of death, he said.
Salunga said he heard about their deaths from other kids he'd coached.
"I immediately had to take a moment," he said. "For that to happen to someone you know, especially someone so young, I just couldn't believe it."
Tribune reporter Dan Hinkel contributed to this report.
lzumbach@tribpub.com
