Man Fatally Stabbed Pregnant Mom 70 Times, Stabbed Dog Before Starting Fire: Prosecutors

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Prosecutors say Nedas Revuckas, 19, stabbed Eliza Morales over 70 times, killing her and her unborn child, and set fire to her Downers Grove home because he was displeased with a truck she and her husband sold him on Facebook Marketplace. Morales was five months pregnant at the time of the attack. Revuckas is also accused of stabbing the family's dog between the eyes.

Morales' husband was at work when the attack took place. The Morales's also have a 2-year-old child, who was not home during the time of the attack.

According to a petition to deny pretrial release, Revuckas responded to a Facebook Marketplace ad Saturday about a 1994 Ford Ranger Morales and her husband were selling. He then visited their home in the 2300 block of Ogden Avenue to look at the truck and took it home, with its original license plates that were registered to the Morales family.

Prosecutors say Revuckas, of Westmont, and Morales' husband spoke via Facebook Messenger Monday to arrange for Revuckas to return the license plates and get the bill of sale for the truck. Video surveillance shows the truck's license plates were picked up by a license plate scanner heading south of Finley Road just after 5 p.m., the petition states.

The petition indicates that video surveillance shows Revuckas getting to the Morales residence just before 5:30 p.m., where Morales met him in the vestibule. He is then seen leaving with a tool Morales had given him, and returning shortly after with a "shiny tool behind his back which resembles a screwdriver" as Morales escorts him into her apartment.

Per the petition, surveillance footage shows the apartment door opening around 5:50 p.m., with Eliza Morales and Revuckas seen engaged in a struggle.

Around 6:10 p.m., Downers Grove Fire Department received a report of a fire at the residence. When they got to the scene, they found Eliza Morales near the door. When she was taken to an ambulance, firefighters discovered she was dead with what appeared to be stab wounds.

The family's elderly dog, Zula, had fled through a sliding door onto the patio during the fire. Prosecutors say the dog had been stabbed between the eyes, and Revucka also admitted to kicking Zula.

Zula is being treated at VCA animal hospital.

Prosecutors say investigators learned that Revuckas lives with his girlfriend on Spruce Lane in Westmont. Around 11:42 p.m. the night of the killing, police found the red pickup truck in the driveway of Revuckas' home, and he was taken into custody, the petition notes.

According to prosecutors, Revuckas later told police he was "frustrated" with the truck's condition and "decided to take out his frustration on Eliza."

Prosecutors say Revuckas used household chemicals to start a fire in the home by stacking items on the stove top.

According to the petition, Revuckas later went with detectives to locate items he said he had discarded after the crime, including a trash can at a Downers Grove Ace Hardware store where prosecutors say investigators recovered a bag containing a camouflage-style jacket he was seen wearing on surveillance video, as well as Morales' work lanyard and work IDs from Lurie Children's hospital, along with pieces that appeared to be from her cell phone. Prosecutors say Revuckas said he snapped Morales' phone in half and discarded the pieces in separate spots.

A preliminary autopsy indicates Morales had 70 stab wounds, with "the majority of the wounds to her head and neck." The preliminary cause of death indicates "multiple sharp force injuries."

No stab wounds were found on her mid-section or to the unborn baby, but the petition said "the preliminary cause of death ... includes intrauterial fetal demise due to multiple sharp force maternal injuries."

Vaginal bruising was also present, according to the petition. Prosecutors say Revuckas denied sexually assaulting Morales, and his charges currently do not include sexual assault.

Revuckas was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated arson, armed robbery, aggravated cruelty to animals, first-degree murder —forcible felony —armed robbery and first-degree murder —forcible felony— aggravated arson.

Revuckas is set to appear in court Jan. 29.

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