Mercedes Used In Murder-Suicide Faces Forfeiture

BOLINGBROOK, IL - On Nov. 8, Aswad Bryant drove to the Bolingbrook home of his ex-girlfriend Millizza "Liza" Steen. He hunted her down, fatally shot her and then killed himself before the Bolingbrook Police Department could take him into custody. Now, in the wake of the murder-suicide, the Will County State's Attorney's Office of James Glasgow has notified the Will County Courthouse that it wants Bryant's Mercedes GL450 declared as a forfeited asset.

Court records filed this week lay out the following events surrounding the horrific murder-suicide. In that case, the domestic violence victim had filed for several orders of protection to keep Bryant, who was known as Shorty, out of her life, but the orders of protection didn't prevent Bryant from showing up at her residence and killing her, Patch has previously reported.

Related: Liza Steen, Murder-Suicide Victim, Feared Shorty

At 7:49 a.m. on Nov. 8, Bolingbrook Police learned of a domestic violence episode in progress at 257 Douglas Way, Bolingbrook's Winston Village subdivision. The 911 caller told authorities that a man had pushed a woman to the ground, and he may have a gun. Moments later, the 911 caller informed dispatchers that they heard a loud bang and that the black man was on the phone, holding a gun, police reports state.

"It was further advised that the female was on the ground by the bushes and not moving," the complaint states. "At that point, dispatch was heard to advise that the male black possibly shot himself in the head. All of this occurred prior to any officer's arrival on scene."

Four Bolingbrook Police Officers arrived at the scene at 7:55 a.m., six minutes after the initial 911 call. There, they secured the front exterior of the house. There, they found Steen and Aswad Bryant on the ground. Bryant was on the ground with head injuries, but still breathing, documents state.

"It should be noted that next to Bryant's hands, on the ground, was a black semi-automatic handgun. Steen was subsequently transported to Amita Bolingbrook Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead," the forfeiture complaint states.

Authorities determined that Bryant had died at the scene. His body was turned over to the Will County Coroner's Office. During a police canvass of the area, officers found Bryant's 2008 Mercedes GL450 at a nearby parking lot and the car was towed to the Bolingbrook Police Station for evidence processing in the murder-suicide.

Because Bryant used his Mercedes in the commission of first-degree murder, the complaint states, Will County prosecutors contend it should be sold at public auction, destroyed or given to a police department in Illinois.

Glasgow's office has notified the estate of the killer, who lived in the 6800 block of Roosevelt Road in Berwyn, to see if they want to submit a claim for the car.

The forfeiture case is set for a hearing at the Will County Courthouse on Feb. 13.

Image via John Ferak/Patch