Authorities arrested 23-year-old Jacob Nodarse of Countryside, Ill., in Lehigh Acres, Fla., on Wednesday afternoon. He appeared in court, where a judge denied his bond and he waived his extradition. He is expected to be back in Illinois within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Police in the Chicago-area have also been questioning an ex-boyfriend of the daughter of the couple who was killed.
Within an hour of the murders, a source tells the Sun-Times suspect Nodarse met with the ex-boyfriend of one of the survivors, a man who was being questioned at the Darien police station Thursday.
The two reportedly talked for several minutes in a Joliet casino. That meeting was captured on casino surveillance cameras.
"I'm not going to fight extradition," said Nodarse during a video hearing.
"Are you going back with them voluntarily?" asked the judge.
"Yes," said Nodarse.
With those words, and his signature on an extradition order, Nodarse indicated he is cooperating with authorities.
Nodarse is a suspect in the murders of Jeff Kramer, 50; his wife, Lori, 48; and their son, Michael, 20, who were killed early Tuesday morning. He has been charged with obstruction of justice.
As Nodarse appeared in court, information led police to search a dumpster at an IHOP in Terre Haute, Indiana. They removed several items, and walked away carrying an evidence bag for a gun.
"We sent crime technicians and a trooper to the IHOP here in Terre Haute and did locate a substantial amount of evidence that we believe is connected to the triple homicide in Darien, Ill.," said Sgt. Joe Watts, Indiana State Police.
The ABC 7 I-Team has learned a .40 caliber Glock - believed to be the murder weapon - was bought here at Midwest Guns in Lyons. ABC7 has learned police have video of the gun being purchased a week before the murders.
Thursday night at the home where Jeffrey, Lori and Michael Kramer were killed surviving family members have been allowed back inside. A source says they had a locksmith open the family's gun safe to see if anything was missing. Nothing was taken.
At the Darien Police station, detectives were wrapping up day two of their interrogation of the ex-boyfriend of the Kramer's 25-year-old daughter Angela. The two have a 1-year-old child together. ABC7 news partner The Daily Herald reports they were fighting over custody matters. Angela was home during the murders and hid in a closet.
While the father of her child reportedly has a strong alibi, real estate records indicate his family owns property on the same block in Countryside where suspect Jacob Nodarse lives.
Investigators are also talking with those who know the ex-boyfriend.
Police can only hold a person for 72 hours before they have to file charges or release the person. That 72 hours for the ex-boyfriend is up at 8 a.m. Friday.
