March 28--A man sought in the slaying of a 31-year-old woman found inside her Skokie home was arrested Sunday afternoon on Chicago's West Side.
Jermaine Powell was wanted on a warrant issued against him for a parole violation. Powell was arrested about 4:15 p.m. Sunday in the 2700 block of West Jackson Boulevard, police said. He was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing to property, police said.
Powell also was wanted for questioning in the slaying of his child's mother.
The victim, Catherine Benyamin, had been strangled, according to an autopsy performed Friday by the Cook County medical examiner's office. Her death was ruled a homicide.
Benyamin's body was found Thursday morning inside her apartment in the 8200 block of Keating Avenue in the north suburb, authorities said. Police then began a search for her 10-month-old son, Joshua Powell, and the boy's father, Jermaine Powell.
The boy was dropped off later Thursday at a church near Halsted Street and Roosevelt Road in Chicago, police said. He was taken to a hospital for observation.
Police on Friday continued to search for Jermaine Powell, who they say matched a description of a person who was seen dropping off the boy at the church.
Powell's criminal record includes convictions for aggravated battery to police officers, residential burglary, felony escape from a peace officer, aggravated robbery and drug possession, authorities said.
Skokie police issued a statement Monday afternoon saying it is no longer seeking the public's assistance since Powell is in custody in Chicago for an Illinois Department of Corrections parole violation.
Skokie police Officer Eric Swaback said charges have not been filed against Powell in the Skokie homicide, but he will be questioned as part of the investigation. The North Regional Major Crimes Task Force is continuing to assist the Skokie Police Department with the homicide investigation, he said.
Pioneer Press' Mike Isaacs and Chicago Tribune's Grace Wong contributed.
