A 24-year-old man from Illinois has been arrested in connection with the death of a 61-year-old woman.
Reese Miller was apprehended on August 30 after he was seen driving a blue Toyota Scion, which belonged to the deceased victim. The woman, Ma L. Operio, was found outside her Harwood Heights residence around 6:30 am with a zip-tie bound around her neck.
Emergency medical technicians arrived at the scene and immediately took off the zip-tie, administered CPR, and rushed her to the nearest hospital. Given the gravity of her injuries, she was placed on life support. Unfortunately, on September 3, after her family opted to cease life support measures, Ms. Operio passed away.
A note was discovered inside the stolen car, written by Miller, expressing his remorse. It said, “I am deeply sorry for hurting anyone at the moment; it seemed to be the only choice.”
As police delved into the incident, they obtained a statement from a neighbor who mentioned seeing a man, likely Miller, assaulting a woman early that day. Following the assault, the man was observed driving away in the victim’s vehicle. Doorbell camera footage acquired during the police probe showed an individual resembling Miller in clothing that matched what he wore at the time of his arrest. When presented with this footage, Miller confirmed his presence in the video. He also confirmed owning a knife found inside the stolen vehicle and mentioned that he had relocated Ms. Operio’s body to prevent it from being run over.
After being briefed about his rights, Miller provided a confession to the police regarding the incident. He’s now facing charges, including attempted first-degree murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking. Miller is held at Cook County Jail, with a court hearing slated for September 22.
It’s been reported by his legal team that Miller was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in the past.