Wheeling Homicide: Pingree Grove Man Accused of Strangling Mother

WHEELING, IL — A Pingree Grove man accused in the strangling death of a Wheeling mother earlier this week was arrested Friday in Springfield, Missouri. Ahmeel Fowler, 26, is being charged in the homicide of Ja'nya Murphy, 21, who was found slain in her Wheeling apartment Tuesday night.

Murphy's daughter, Jaclyn "Angel" Dobbs, 1, was kidnapped and found dead Thursday in a retention pond in northwest Indiana. No charges have been filed in that case.

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Fowler was named a person of interest early in the case involving Murphy, with whom he reportedly had a relationship, according to Wheeling police. He had been taken into custody at the request of Wheeling police in Springfield Wednesday night.

The Cook County Attorney's Office approved a warrant for Fowler's arrest, according to a news release.

The Cook County Medical Examiner said Murphy was strangled and died from asphyxiation as the result of a homicide. A cause of death for Dobbs has not been released.

Wheeling Police Chief Jamie Dunne extended his deepest condolences to the family of the woman and child and thanked the numerous police agencies across three states involved in the case.