Police Investigating Death of 14-Year-Old LT Student as a Homicide
The body of 14-year-old girl Kelli O'Laughlin was found Thursday afternoon in an Indian Head Park Home; police are investigating her death as a homicide.
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Update, Oct. 28, 11:44 a.m.:
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office has confirmed that the victim was 14-year-old LTHS freshman Kelli O'Laughlin.
Indian Head Park police are investigating the death of a Lyons Township High School freshman as a homicide, police told media outlets on Thursday.
The body of a 14-year-old girl was discovered on Thursday afternoon in a home in the northwest part of Indian Head Park. Police said the girl died as a result of stab wounds sustained in a possible home invasion.
Oct. 28, 1:30 a.m.
LT will not be holding classes tomorrow for a scheduled non-attendance day. However, counselors will be made available tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the school's South Campus, located at 4900 S. Willow Springs Rd., in Western Springs. Support services will continue to be made available to faculty and students in the coming weeks.
"The District's top priority is to help ensure that our students have the support they need during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to the family," LTHS spokeswoman Jennifer Bialobok wrote in a statement this morning.
Oct. 28, 1:00 a.m.
WGN news is reporting that District 204 Superintendent Thomas Kilrea has sent a letter to parents of Lyons Township High School students telling them about a freshmen student's death.
"It is with deep regret that I must inform you of the tragic loss of an LTHS freshman student," Kilrea said in the email. "The matter is under investigation and the police will share details as they become available. We are not at liberty to disclose the name of the student at this time."
Oct. 28, 12:00 a.m.
Indian Head Park police have not yet released the victim's name, but students at Lyons Township High School have created two memorial pages and a memorial event on Facebook for LTHS freshman Kelli O'Laughlin.
Oct. 27, 11:00 p.m.
Western Springs Patch editor Darren McRoy just left the area and said Willowbrook police have brought in a K-9 unit.
Oct. 27, 10:45 p.m.
Indian Head Park police are investigating the stabbing death of a 14-year-old girl whose body was found Thursday afternoon in a home in the southwest suburb.
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the death took place east of Interstate 294 and south of Plainfield Road near Pontiac Drive. Police would only say they were investigating the death as a homicide. Indian Head Park Police Chief Frank Alonzo told reporters he would have more information by the morning. NBC reported the girl's death could have occurred during a home invasion.
According to a WGN news report, neighbors said they thought the girl was a freshman at a local public high school.
This is a breaking news alert. Patch coverage will continue.
Garry Watkins
11:55 pm on Thursday, October 27, 2011
May God bless this little girl and her family.
Matthew Hendrickson
1:03 am on Friday, October 28, 2011
Thanks for your comments, readers. Our thoughts are with the family too. This is a terrible tragedy.
kelly
1:24 am on Friday, October 28, 2011
We live in the area and the Elem middle school a few blocks from this girl have reported several abductions attempted recently I have a feeling a van or white car was sighted and will be the person people that can rot in hell parents please don't leave your kids to walk or be home alone
Matthew Hendrickson
1:44 am on Friday, October 28, 2011
Thanks for your comment Kelly. At the moment, there is no indication that this event has anything to do with the recently reported "white van" incidents. The La Grange police chief recently had a statement about those which you can read here: http://lagrange.patch.com/articles/police-chief-talks-shop-with-la-grange-residents
Brenden Howard
4:47 am on Friday, October 28, 2011
i have seen this white van during the day. i see these kids skating down the street coming from the van, do you think that they may be the people responsible? cause if so maybe they are scoping out houses while they are skating down the street
Kathy
1:41 pm on Friday, October 28, 2011
Maybe Brenden could write down the number of the license plate of this suspicious van...?
Michael Briskey
1:38 am on Friday, October 28, 2011
Sincere condolences to the family. Lovely girl; such a tragic loss to the community.
Janee Matteson
7:21 am on Friday, October 28, 2011
My landscaper has a white van and is a reputable person. White vans alone do not signify abductors.
C Throckmorton
8:06 am on Friday, October 28, 2011
Such a sad and traumatic event no family should experience. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Lucy
10:47 am on Friday, October 28, 2011
This is just so awful. I just will never understand such senseless deaths like this. I am a mother of a 14 year old and it hurts me to think of what she went through. My daughter stays home alone at times, no longer than a couple of hours but still.....it makes you think twice. She is old enough to function by herself but is everyone prepared for the worst? My heart goes out to her family,especially her poor mother, her friends, her teachers and school staff. I just hope the person(s) responsible are caught. To rob a home is one thing but why take the life of an innocent child?
Matthew Hendrickson
11:32 am on Friday, October 28, 2011
Thanks for your thoughtful comment Lucy.
cb
1:45 pm on Friday, October 28, 2011
Another article on this tragedy mentions that the "soccer moms" have their panties in a bunch, so to speak, because of the lack of info. from the police. They need to calm down, let the police do their job and stop thinking about themselves. I seriously doubt that the same area is still at risk while its teeming with cops. The morbid in all of you simply want the details--knowing how she died isn't going to make you more safe at this time. Stop trying to satisfy your own curiosity. The police aren't keeping this silent to be vindictive Makes me sick..
Matthew Hendrickson
2:24 pm on Friday, October 28, 2011
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us CB. Police just held a press conference where they gave information about a person of interest they would like to speak with. They have a composite image for it, but do not have the person's name. If you'd like to read it, you can find it here: http://lagrange.patch.com/articles/indian-head-park-victim-was-found-by-mother-autopsy-results-pending
Matthew Hendrickson
2:29 pm on Friday, October 28, 2011
The Indian Head Park police chief basically said everything is under investigation and would not confirm any details about the crime. Another press conference is scheduled for 5 or 6 p.m. tonight, more details might be available then.
Ice Man
5:35 pm on Friday, October 28, 2011
It is most upsetting to have heard about this. I recently moved out of IHP. It was a great village to live in. The IHP and LTHS community is strong. The support to the family I have read here and on facebook is amazing.
Joyce Petricig FIsher
4:27 pm on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
My heart is still breaking about this terrible tragedy that happened to this beautiful young girl. I have a freshman and am terrified to let him come home alone! I pray every day for this family, and that the police will find this murderer. I wish I had information but I don't. Maybe they should enlist the help of a psychic? Sometimes they can help.
sarah
5:22 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012
my kelli rest in peace she a beutifull young lady.she with the angels now.thank god for undercover policeman and cab driver that turn in the missing coins that brought that bad guy to justice.know parent should have to burry a child.kelli 100s of people were looking for the bad i guy .i was one them.