Man Charged With Murdering Pregnant Woman Found In Lake Michigan

CHICAGO — The romantic partner of a pregnant woman whose body was found floating in Lake Michigan near Waukegan is accused of fatally stabbing her on a beach on Chicago's South Side, authorities said.

Yarianna Wheeler, 19, was about seven months pregnant at the time of her death, which came five days before a fisherman found her body about three miles southeast of Waukegan Harbor on Aug. 15, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

An autopsy showed evidence of drowning and multiple stab wounds, according to the Lake County Coroner's office. Two weeks after her body was found, authorities were able to identify Wheeler after someone recognized her from a composite sketch. Dental records confirmed it was her.

Detectives then went to Wheeler's home in Chicago to investigate and quickly developed a suspect — 21-year-old Robert Drummond, of the 4300 block of South Berkley Avenue, Chicago — who is believed to have had a romantic relationship with Wheeler, according to Deputy Chief Chris Covelli.

---

Investigators learned that Wheeler had met with Drummond before her death, and that they had been together near Oakwood Beach, near East 41st Street in the Oakland neighborhood.

Evidence found at the beach on Aug. 30 led detectives to believe that Wheeler had been stabbed to death there.

Working with missing person detectives from Chicago police, sheriff's office evidence technicians and drone pilots collected more evidence from the scene before the case was turned over to the Chicago Police Department.

Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said he was incredibly proud of the tenacity of sheriff's detectives during the investigation.

"Through their hard and diligent work, they quickly identified a person of interest, discovered the likely crime scene, and worked with Chicago Detectives to further the investigation," Idleburg said in a statement. "We will always do everything in our power to be the voice of victims who are unable to speak for themselves and hold those who victimized them accountable.”

Drummond was arrested around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday in an alley near his home after police obtained a warrant for one felony count of first-degree murder, according to Officer Michelle Tannehill, a spokesperson for Chicago police. He is due in bond court Saturday in Chicago.

Related:

• Police Find Person Of Interest In Pregnant Woman's Death
• Body Found In Lake Michigan Identified As Missing Pregnant Woman
• Pregnant Woman Was Stabbed Before She Was Found Floating In Lake
• Authorities Seek To Identify Pregnant 'Lake Michigan Jane Doe'