Another Trial Delay Disappoints 2009 Stabbing Victim's Family, Friends

When the family and friends of Felix Jimenez met last month at Good Shepherd Cemetery to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Oak Forest teen's death, there was a feeling that closure was imminent. 

The trial of Derek Grib, the man accused of stabbing and killing Jimenez at a party in July 2009, was finally set to start and run for three days in the first full week of August. Over the years, numerous delays—some caused by a backlog in Cook County murder trials—have kept Jimenez's family in a frustrating state of perpetual anticipation.

It's a condition that those closest to Jimenez will continue to experience as the trial was moved again earlier this week, a family friend told Patch. The start of the trial had been scheduled for Aug. 7, but it was moved to an unspecified date in September, said Brittany Williams, Jimenez's high school friend. She did not know the reason behind moving the trial start date.

"Speaking on behalf of all of Felix's family and friends, we are all beyond disappointed that trial has been moved again," Williams told Patch. "We were all really hopefully that justice was finally going to be served, especially after just having the four-year memorial. … We will all continue to pray and trust that God will give us justice soon. As well as try to keep the legacy of what an amazing guy Felix was alive."

News of the delay comes during the same week as Jimenez's birthday. He would've turned 23 on Thursday, Aug. 1.

Grib, who waived his right to a jury trial, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing and killing Jimenez at a party in Oak Forest on July 12, 2009. Jimenez died shortly after midnight July 13, 2009.

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• Mother of Stabbing Victim: 'I Just Keep Crying'
• Dad: Murder Trial is 'in God's Hands Now'
• Father of Slain Son Wants Closure
• Murder Trial in Jimenez Case Set to Begin in February
• Stabbing Death Trial Delayed Until July
• Defense Lawyer Wants 'Bad Acts' Evidence Allowed
• Start of Murder Trial in Jimenez Case Delayed
• Third Anniversary of Felix Jimenez's Murder Passes Without a Trial
• Murder Trial in Stabbing Death Set for March
• Murder Trial in Stabbing Death Delayed Again, Until 2013
• Murder Trial in Stabbing Death Pushed Back Until May