Snowy Footprints Lead Police To Killer In Distinctive Bright Orange Coat: Police

STICKNEY TOWNSHIP, IL — A Cicero man is charged with murder after his snowy footprints and distinctive orange coat helped police to quickly find him following a fatal stabbing in Stickney Township, authorities said.

Fernando Zavala, 54, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the killing of 39-year-old Misael Martinez-Salgado and the injury of a 38-year-old woman, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers responded just before 4 a.m. Monday to the 5000 block of South Luna Avenue for the reported stabbing, police said.

They found both victims suffering from their injuries and learned Zavala had run from the scene in a bright orange coat, according to the sheriff's office. Footprints in the snow led the officers to Zavala, still in the coat, four blocks away, police said.

Martinez-Salgado later died and the woman has since been released from the hospital, according to the sheriff's office.

Zavala had been staying with the pair and had argued with Martinez-Salgado before the stabbing, police said, adding Zavala was ordered to be held in Cook County jail as of Wednesday following his first court appearance.