Accused Child Killer Goes on Hunger Strike

ZION, IL — The man accused of stabbing two girls to death at a Zion forest preserve to 2005 has begun a hunger strike at the Lake County Jail due to being placed in protective custody and being restricted from speaking with other inmates.

Jorge Avila-Torrez, 25, who is already serving five life sentences for a series of attacks on women in Washington, D.C., has been charged in the Mother’s Day killings of two girls - one 8, the other 9. Jerry Hobbs, the father of one of the girls had served five years in prison for the crime but was later exonerated when DNA evidence pointed to Avila-Torrez.

Avila-Torrez’ attorney, Jed Stone, said his client has resumed the hunger strike that began a few weeks ago, according to the Lake County News-Sun. Stone said that Avila-Torrez’s hunger strike lasted only a few days because “for a while they relaxed the no-talking provision” but that last week he stopped consuming food and water again after the provision was brought back.

“The basis of Jorge’s complaint is that there is no justification for keeping him from talking to other inmates,” Stone said. “This is cruel and unusual punishment. Very few individuals must be isolated and there is no evidence that (Avila-Torrez) poses a threat by being able to talk.”

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office says Avila-Torrez was placed in protective custody for his own safety due to the severity of the charges against him.

“He’s being held on homicide of children charges,” said Detective Christopher Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. “This was done as a preventative measure.”

Covelli also inferred it may not be a hunger strike at all.

“It’s not uncommon for inmates to claim they are carrying out a hunger strike to receive special attention and consideration,” Covelli said in a statement. “Corrections staff has been monitoring his commissary account and noted he’s made purchases of food items which are located in his cell.”

more via the Lake County News-Sun