Crime & Safety
DNA On Nightstands Nabs Man For 2022 Home Invasions: Des Plaines PD
The 37-year-old was charged with two felonies stemming from two separate incidents involving elderly residents, according to police.
DES PLAINES, IL — Police said Wednesday DNA collected from the nightstands of two elderly victims of separate home invasions in 2022 has led to the arrest of a suspect. Walter Reed, 37, of the 400 block of N. Lake Shore Drive, Palatine, is accused of felony home invasion and residential burglary, and was arrested Tuesday in Rolling Meadows.
Reed was released following a detention hearing and is due back in court at a future date.
On Dec. 13, 2022, police responded to the 1500 block of Kingston Court following a 911 call regarding a home burglary. When police arrived, an elderly victim said that while she was upstairs, she heard a loud noise. She went downstairs and encountered two men. One of them told her there was a fire and that she needed to leave, while the other went upstairs and began ransacking her bedroom. Both men then fled the scene with the victim's jewelry and a small amount of cash. During a canvas of the area, it was learned the men had arrived in a large, dark-colored SUV.
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Five days later, police responded to the 400 block of Good Avenue for another home invasion. An elderly victim said he answered his door and a man told him there was a fire in back. The man then attempted to walk past the victim, but they placed their arms out to prevent him from doing so. In response, the man pushed the victim, causing him to fall. Additional people then entered the residence. Soon thereafter, the men fled the home with the victim's checkbooks and a 39-caliber silver/chrome revolver.
In both incidents, a Des Plaines police evidence technician had collected trace evidence on the nightstands that had been opened. Both samples were submitted separately to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for testing. On Jan. 11, ISP Crime Lab returned results to the Des Plaines detectives, identifying the DNA as belonging to Reed. Both victims confirmed that they do not know Reed nor was he ever invited into their homes.
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The Cook County State's Attorney's Office approved the felony charges.
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