Crime & Safety

Man Charged with Murder in Aurora Woman's Death

Jose Loera is accused of strangling ex-girlfriend Heather Jacobi with a scarf in her east Aurora home. Jacobi was the mother of three children.

The ex-boyfriend of an Aurora woman found dead Saturday has been charged with first-degree murder.

Jose Loera, 35, of the 3800 block of Gabrielle Lane, Aurora, was charged by DuPage County prosecutors Monday in the death of 32-year-old Heather Jacobi.

Jacobi, a mother of three and former Romeoville resident, was found dead in her home in the 100 block of Gregory Lane in Aurora early Saturday morning. Her mother contacted police after Jacobi failed to show up for work and did not answer her phone.


According to prosecutors, Loera went to Jacobi's home on Friday evening and the two got into an argument that turned violent. Investigators believe Jacobi was strangled with a scarf by Loera, who then fled the scene, according to prosecutors.

Several hours before being asked to check on Jacobi, police also received a well-being call from Loera's family. Officers who arrived at Loera's home found him unconscious but breathing in his home. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment before being released to authorities.

On Monday afternoon, Loera appeared in DuPage County court, where Judge Richard Russo ordered him held on $5 million bond. His next court date is scheduled for May 5.

Monday's charges were the result of an investigation by the Aurora Police Department, the Major Crimes Task Force and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, according to a press release from State's Attorney Robert Berlin.

Berlin cited the CDC, which estimates that 1.3 million women  are victims of physical assault committed by an intimate partner each year; more than 16,000 murders each year are also the result of domestic violence.

"These numbers are just staggering," Berlin said. "We, as a society, have got to get domestic violence under control. People have to learn to walk away from an argument if they see it escalating or turning violent. Take some time apart from each other to cool off before what started out as a disagreement spirals out of control and ends up tragically. 

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Heather’s family and friends, particularly her children, as they attempt to come to terms with this senseless crime," Berlin said Monday.

Visitation for Jacobi is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Anderson Memorial Chapel, 606 Townhall Drive in Romeoville. A funeral is set for 11 a.m. Thursday at the chapel.


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