Man Arrested In Villa Park Killing: Cops

VILLA PARK, IL – A man was arrested in last year's death of an older man who he punched and robbed at the Villa Park train station, police said Thursday.

Gregory Matthews, 30, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was charged with first-degree murder and robbery.

About 7 p.m. July 10, 2022, Villa Park police were called to the train station on Ardmore Avenue. They found 62-year-old James Kelly unconscious, lying on his back with blood coming out of his right ear and other places on his face and head, according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors.

On Dec. 3, Kelly died as a result of complications of his head injuries, police said.

Authorities said Kelly was alone on the train station platform when Matthews punched him, causing him to fall to the ground. Matthews then stole Kelly's phone, police said.

Earlier this month, Matthews was arrested after a disturbance at a Minnesota train station, according to the news release. He was jailed and later charged with Kelly's death. He was returned to DuPage County last week.

"There is absolutely no justification for this alleged unprovoked attack on Mr. Kelly," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the news release. "The fatal, senseless act of violence alleged in this case will not be tolerated and will be aggressively prosecuted."

On Thursday, a DuPage County judge denied bail for Matthews.