1 in custody after Amber Alert, stabbings of mother, 2 young brothers on South Side, police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 39-year-old man was arrested in northwest Indiana Friday morning after an Amber Alert and stabbings that left a mother dead and two young brothers critically injured on the South Side.

The Amber Alert was issued for an 8-year-old boy in Chicago, who was later found safe.

The woman's family now hopes the two sons recover from their multiple surgeries following their desperate search for help after their mother was killed.

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It all began Thursday night, with the fatal stabbing of a 33-year-old woman inside a home in the 7100-bock of South Eberhart Avenue.

Chicago police officers combed the gruesome scene in the Grand Crossing neighborhood.

The woman was stabbed multiple times and taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. The woman has been identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as Teone Jones.

The person of interest was also connected to the stabbing of an 11-year-old boy, who was found Thursday night in the 200-block of West 66th Street.

When officers arrived at the scene, the Chicago Fire Department was treating the 11-year-old boy, who had multiple stab wounds to the chest. He was transported to Comer Children's Hospital in critical condition.

There was a heart-wrenching embrace outside of Comer Children's Hospital Friday night, after the family's matriarch made the gruesome discovery of her daughter, left clinging to life.

Video from a doorbell camera near 66th Street and Yale Avenue shows the 11-year-old searching for help.

ABC7 Chicago blurred his face because he's a minor.

But, the woman living at the home that recorded the video said the child showed up Thursday night with multiple stab wounds.

"I could hear him running up the stairs, and then it's 'bam, bam, bam, help me,' and I froze," Cynthia Keel said. "He told me his stepfather stabbed him. So, I'm just like, Lord Jesus, praying on my porch, don't let him die."

Keel said she and another neighbor called 911.

"So, I opened the door and there were two bloody handprints on my window," Keel said. "You can hear him yelling and screaming. The gentleman across the street let him into the lobby."

An Amber Alert went out early Friday morning for an 8-year-old boy in the same area the stabbing was reported. The boy was found around 4:30 a.m. at 82nd Street and Damen Avenue, with multiple stab wounds, as well.

Surveillance video from a gas station nearby shows the 8-year-old walking in searching for help.

"When they spoke to Darius, he could only hear. And, he moved his hand. Tristan, when he first got to the hospital, he was still talking," the boys' uncle and Jones' brother Malik Wilson said.

SEE ALSO: Chicago man charged in Provident Hospital stabbing: police

Later Friday morning, Indiana State Police said a person was taken into custody.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department said the man is in custody at the Lake County Jail, after leading police from several agencies on a chase Friday morning.

Lake County officers were alerted by license plate readers that the person of interest in the Amber Alert was in the area about 9:30 a.m. Friday.

At about 9:40 a.m., the Ford Escape in question was found at Interstate 65 and Route 30 in Merrillville, police said.

"He either was thrown off or hopped out of the car on the expressway, and then made it off the expressway to 65th Street," Wilson said.

Indiana State Police and Lake County Highway Interdiction and High Crime began to chase the vehicle, police said.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department Aviation Unit helped from the air.

The vehicle headed south on I-65, and police were able to box it in.

The person of interest was ordered to get out of the vehicle, but refused and put a knife to his neck, police said.

He was taken into custody, and treated for a superficial wound to his neck, police said.

Family members said the person of interest was dating Jones and is the father of one of her children.

"Devastating, I never expected it. I found out at the tail end they were in an abusive relationship, two months ago. And then I just went over to my mom's house two days ago, and found out she'd moved back in with him," Wilson said

Loved ones are shaken by the tragedy, which leaves two young boys critically hurt and without a mother.

The children have both undergone multiple surgeries Friday afternoon, but are stable.

"She was a great mom. Her children changed her life; she turned it around for them," Wilson said. "She was a beautiful soul. She was the person that would pop out at the cookout. She's the person who would help clean before after and during. She brought the family together in a lot of circumstances."

He said their mother found Jones.

"The doors were nailed shut, and the windows were nailed shut. And she was in the basement, stabbed up at the bottom of the stairs, blood all over the house. By the time she got to her, she was still alive," Wilson said.

Jones worked as a hairdresser.

Her employer said in a statement:

"Thank you for reaching out. We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred last night involving one of our beloved Tricoci team members. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Teone's family, friends, and fellow colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. Out of respect for their loved ones and the ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide further comment at this time."

ABC7 Chicago is not naming the person of interest until he's charged, but sources told ABC7 that he is a case worker with the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. He has been placed on paid administrative leave while charges against him are pending.

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