Romeoville Murder Case: Company Sues Romeoville PD Over Tractor

JOLIET, IL — The Romeoville Police Department faces a civil lawsuit surrounding a Peterbilt tractor that was impounded following a murder last July 2018. According to the lawsuit filed by PAM Transport, the tractor was taken into evidence following the murder of Jennifer Underhill, 42. Her body was found in the grass near a warehouse in the 1800 block of Normantown Road in July 2018.

Patch previously reported that George L. Hooper, 34, who lived in unincorporated Plainfield, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in Underhill's death, as well as being an armed habitual criminal and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

Several others also face charges in connection with Underhill's murder. Rose M. Parker, 57, was charged with two counts of obstructing justice and Amanda Weck, 33, was charged with reckless discharge of a gun for allegedly firing a gun into the air while standing next to Hooper.

Underhill lived in Rochelle, Illinois.

According to the new Will County lawsuit, PAM Transport is based in Arkansas and it owned the 2015 Peterbilt tractor that is registered in Indiana. "On or about July 25, 2018, plaintiff's former driver, Geremy Hooper, was operating this tractor and was making deliveries for the plaintiff," court documents state. "On or about July 25, 2018, Mr. Hooper had an unauthorized passenger in his vehicle."

Geremy Hooper is the murder defendant's brother, according to several news outlets.

The lawsuit continues, informing Will County's judiciary that "On or about July 25, 2018, another individual shot and killed the passenger who was with Mr. Hooper in the tractor, although this murder took place outside of the tractor in an adjacent field or somewhere else outdoors."

After the murder, Romeoville Police seized the 2015 Peterbilt tractor as part of their criminal investigation; the police have refused to return it to its rightful owners, even though seven months have passed, lawyers for PAM Transport contend.

"Plaintiff notes that the Romeoville Police Department has had possession of the 2015 Peterbilt tractor for well over seven months, which should be sufficient time to complete any criminal investigation or obtain any evidence from the Peterbilt tractor.

"Plaintiff has incurred damages as a result of the Romeoville Police Department's wrongful possession of its 2015 Peterbilt tractor, including loss of use, downtime, and the possible loss of income in selling the 2015 Peterbilt tractor back to Peterbilt."