Reward offered in beating of elderly woman in Irving Park
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A reward is being offered for information on the person who beat an elderly woman in Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood on Friday afternoon. She is in critical condition at Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston.
The woman was not identified by name at the request of her daughters. On Saturday, her daughters asked for people's help to find the man that did this to her.
The 78-year-old woman was severely beaten and was still in critical condition on Saturday afternoon, bleeding internally. Police said the woman was beaten by a burglar who deceived his way into the Irving Park apartment building that she lives in on Friday afternoon.
The woman's daughters have been able to speak to her about what happened and said their mother was cleaning her kitchen when she felt someone grab her from behind.
"She keeps saying, he told me not to look at him. He told me not to look at him. And then she closes her eyes. Why should she go through this? For some jewelry. That's all he took. Jewelry," said the victim's daughter, Lisette Martinez.
Her wedding bands, a high school ring, a crucifix and some earrings were all that was stolen. Those helping the family believe the burglar might be looking to pawn those items. They're also putting up a $5,000 reward for anyone with information that might lead to an arrest.
Police said the home invasion took place in the 4100-block of North Avers at approximately 1:13 p.m. Friday. The woman suffered numerous blows to the head and face and was taken to Saint Francis Hospital, police said.
Ivonne Morales rushed to the hospital to be at her badly beaten mother's side.
"She has a fractured nose, bleeding in the brain. They just put stitches around her eye," Morales said.
She said her mother was attacked in her ground floor apartment at Avers and Elston. She asked that her mother not be identified by name.
"Her clothes are soaked in blood, her hands are soaked in blood, her hair right now," Morales said. "I just held her hand and said, 'Mom, we're here, it's going to be ok.'"
A neighbor called 911 and saw the intruder.
"I saw somebody who looks like he doesn't belong in our apartment, I've never seen him before," the neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said.
The neighbor believes the man came to the victim's back door asking if there was an apartment for rent.
"She is 78 years old, who is she going to harm? She can't defend herself," Morales said.
Police described the suspect as a tall, thin Hispanic male, wearing wire-framed glasses and either a red hood or baseball cap. He was wearing jeans at the time of the robbery and also has a goatee.
Police said they are still investigating.
