Chicago, IL – Immigration authorities have taken a 52-year-old Mexican national into custody following allegations that he murdered and dismembered a missing Illinois woman earlier this year.
Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, a resident of Waukegan, was initially arrested in April and charged with concealing a corpse, abuse of a corpse, and obstruction of justice.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the remains of 37-year-old Megan Bos were discovered in a bleach-filled storage container on Mendoza-Gonzalez’s property.
Bos had been reported missing on March 9, though family members said they last had contact with her in February.
Investigators allege her body was kept on the property for nearly two months. DHS officials said she had been decapitated before being placed in the container.
Following his April arrest, Lake County Judge Randie Bruno ordered Mendoza-Gonzalez’s release after his first court appearance, a decision that drew criticism from some local officials.
On Saturday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents located and re-arrested Mendoza-Gonzalez at a market in Chicago. He is now being held in ICE custody pending further legal proceedings.
Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner expressed concern over the release, pointing to Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, which changed pretrial detention rules. “The nature of the crime, how long it was concealed, and the fact that the suspect is not a U.S. citizen raise serious concerns about public safety,” Gartner said.
State Representative Tom Weber also voiced frustration, saying the case highlights ongoing debates over state bail reform and the handling of violent crime suspects.
Federal officials have stated their intention to work closely with local law enforcement to ensure the case proceeds through the court system, emphasizing that justice for Bos and her family remains a priority.
