Dominic Jamal Sanders, of Chicago, faces 20 years to life in prison after being charged with first-degree murder.
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Sanders is accused of breaking into 51-year-old Andrea Urban's home on May 4, slashing her throat and bludgeoning her to death, leaving her on the kitchen floor. Investigators said she was found by her 17-year-old son.
Police connected Sanders to the crime because they said he stole Urban's rings and there is video of him pawning them at a pawn shop in Melrose Park. Prosecutors said surveillance video showed Sanders park a car in Hinsdale and walk in the direction of the home. About 30 minutes later, the video showed Sanders walking back to his car.
In the last few weeks, police combed the neighborhood, looking at surveillance video and searching for her killer. Last Tuesday, police sent out a bulletin describing a person of interest.
That man, now believed to be Sanders, was wearing a safety vest and driving a Dodge Charger. But Sanders' family told ABC7 Eyewitness News that police have the wrong man.
"I know one thing, my son is not capable of this type of situation," said Shirley Boddie, Sanders' mother.
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Sanders' cousin said Sanders served time in prison for forgery, but is not a violent man.
The cousin said about 12 detectives showed up to his home Thursday and put the person of interest in handcuffs, seizing the Dodge Charger. The cousin said an officer told him the car would be towed to the Hinsdale police station.
"They say they taking him in for a traffic violation and that his bond was $750 and that's what he would need to get out. But like I say, there were too many cops out there. I knew something else, there was another side to the story," the cousin said.
Sanders' next court appearance is scheduled for June 19.