Aurora Man Sentenced to 48 Years for Murder of Estranged Girlfriend

AURORA, IL - A 38-year-old former Aurora man was sentenced to 48 years in prison for the 2014 murder of the murder of his estranged girlfriend.

Jose Loera, formerly of 3845 Gabrielle Lane in Aurora, was sentenced on Wednesday after he entered a guilty plea to one count of first-degree murder in September.

Loera was convicted of killing Heather Jacobi, 32, of the 100 block of Gregory Lane in Aurora. On March 29, 2014, the Aurora Police Department received a phone call requesting a well-being check at Jacobi’s residence at 7:30 a.m.

Upon their arrival at the home, officers discovered Jacobi dead in the home, according to a news release from the DuPage County State’s Attorney press release.

An investigation into the murder revealed that the evening before, Loera went to Jacobi’s residence. While at Jacobi’s home, an argument between the two turned violent. Loera beat and strangled Jacobi with a scarf.

Loera then fled the residence and returned to his home.

Jacobi was a nurse at the DuPage County jail. She had an order of protection against Loera after several previous domestic abuse situations and after Loera verbally abused her three children, according to the Daily Herald. The most recent order of protection was in place at the time of Jacobi's death but had been amended that day.

About six hours before discovering Jacobi, police received a phone call requesting a well-being check at Loera’s residence. Upon their arrival at Loera’s home at 1:30 a.m., officers discovered Loera unconscious. Loera was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and subsequently released to authorities.

“On the evening of March 27, 2014, Jose Loera savagely beat and strangled his former girlfriend, Heather Jacobi, to death,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin. “Heather fought for her life as best she could but in the end, Jose overpowered her. Today at sentencing, Mr. Loera asked Judge Bakalis for leniency so that someday he may be able to rejoin his family. It is ironic that the man who saw to it that Heather will never be able to rejoin her family is now asking the Court for that very same consideration. I would like to thank the Court for imposing an appropriate sentence in this very tragic case. Forty-eight years behind bars is a long time and for Mr. Loera, at thirty eight years old, a forty-eight year sentence is essentially a life sentence. Our thoughts and prayers are with Heather’s family and friends, particularly her children, as they close this horrible chapter in their lives.”

Loera, who has been held in the DuPage County Jail on $5 million bond since his arrest, will be required to serve 100% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.