Nov. 13--A man strangled and beat to death his stepfather in front of his mother and young relatives after accusing the victim of stealing his wallet, prosecutors said Friday.
Dwayne Jones, 20, who lived at the same Austin neighborhood apartment as Terrell Peterson, 42, is accused of strangling and fatally beating Peterson on Wednesday morning in front of Jones' mother, her 9-year-old granddaughter, and Peterson and Jones' mother's 8-year-old son, according to Assistant State's Attorney Kim Przekota. Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil ordered Jones, who police arrested at a downtown bus station three hours after the killing, held in lieu of $2 million bail.
Peterson and Jones' mother -- Peterson's fiance -- were in their bedroom with the girl and boy, who were watching cartoons on the bed, when the attack took place about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday at the family's apartment in the 800 block of North Central Avenue, according to police and prosecutors.
Jones went into the bedroom and said he thought Peterson had stolen his wallet, searched the bedroom and patted down Peterson, looking for the wallet, prosecutors said. The two began to fight, and Jones hit Peterson as the two fell onto the bed.
Jones' mother yelled for Jones to stop and heard Peterson say, "I quit, I quit," several times as Jones kept hitting Peterson, prosecutors said. Jones' mother tried to get the children out of the bedroom and left the room herself to get her cellphone to call 911, but not before the children saw Jones hit and choke Peterson.
The mother went back into the room and found Peterson facedown on the floor, with Jones on top of him. Jones got off Peterson, said he had knocked out Peterson, and walked out of the room, prosecutors said. He then fled on a bicycle that belonged to one of the children, leaving before police or paramedics arrived.
Jones' mother called 911, and stayed on the phone as Peterson, who appeared unconscious, was bleeding on the floor, prosecutors said. Police who went to the home were met by Jones' mother, who told them he had just attacked Peterson and fled.
Peterson was pronounced dead at 7:24 a.m. Wednesday.
Jones' mother told police that Jones might try to flee Chicago because his father lives in Wisconsin, and police arrested him at the downtown Greyhound station, 630 W. Harrison St.
After his arrest, Jones told investigators that he thought Peterson took his wallet and admitted to confronting Peterson about it and fighting him before Jones "choked him out" while Peterson was on the floor, prosecutors said.
An autopsy determined Peterson died of asphyxiation from being strangled and multiple blunt force injuries, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Chicago Tribune reporter Steve Schmadeke contributed.
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