Mother speaks out after ICE arrests man charged with concealing body of Antioch woman: EXCLUSIVE

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- A 52-year-old Waukegan man who was charged with concealing the body of a missing 37-year-old Antioch woman has now been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security officials announced Sunday.

The woman had been missing since early March when she was found in a container in his yard in April, Waukegan police said.

It's been more than three months since Bos was found dead on the Waukegan property. There was a sense of peace and closure for her family Sunday as the man accused of hiding Bos' body is in ICE custody, potentially facing deportation.

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Mendoza-Gonzalez is facing multiple charges. He had his first court appearance April 12 in Lake County, where he was granted pre-trial release.

ICE officers took Mendoza-Gonzalez into custody Saturday in Chicago, officials said. The man is from Mexico and was living in the United States illegally, according to a DHS statement shared with ABC7 Chicago on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a grieving mother is trying to turn her trauma into justice. Jennifer Bos last saw her 37-year-old daughter in February, and two months later, Megan Bos was found in a container at a home on Yeoman Street in Waukegan.

"It was so unexpected to have been told that she was found that way," Jennifer Bos said.

The autopsy revealed that Megan Bos possibly died from a fentanyl overdose, but Mendoza-Gonzalez was allegedly there when she died, and prosecutors say he hid her body for two months at his home. The Lake County Coroner said the final cause of death is still pending.

Mendoza-Gonzalez was charged with concealment of a death, abuse of a corpse and obstructing justice.

"He had put her inside, covered her with a blanket. I was told there was a carpet over that, and there was a large amount of very strongly bleach smelling liquid in the container with her," Jennifer Bos said.

A statement from the Department of Homeland Security reported Megan Bos was also decapitated, but her mother disputes that.

"She was not decapitated. No definitely not," Jennifer Bos said.

Frustration grew even more for the Bos family when Mendoza-Gonzalez was granted pre-trial release in April, because his charges did not meet the necessary criteria to remain in jail under the Illinois SAFE-T Act.

"It has driven me crazy every single day to think that he's been out there," Jennifer Bos said.

Jennifer Bos said she's since learned that Megan Bos did know Mendoza-Gonzalez and hung out with him from time to time.

Prosecutors are still looking into how exactly she got the fentanyl.

The investigation took a turn when DHS discovered Mendoza-Gonzalez is from Mexico and has been living here illegally for several years.

Jennifer Bos was at the White House Wednesday for President Donald Trump's Halt Fentanyl legislation event, and she used that moment to send a message.

"He started walking past, and I threw my hand in the air, and I said, 'Mr. president,' and he turned around and looked at me," Jennifer Bos said.

She says her story resonated with the president, and he responded, "watch what happens."

Two days later, federal authorities say Mendoza-Gonzalez was taken into custody by ICE.

"I am thrilled," Jennifer Bos said. "I don't know what's gonna happen now, but I do know he wasn't sleeping in his bed last night."

It's a sense of relief for this mother as she now turns her focus to bringing awareness to the SAFE-T Act, which she says only delayed justice for her daughter. Her efforts got the attention of local lawmakers, including 64th District State Representative Thomas Weber.

"The state of Illinois, Governor Pritzker needs to hear the voice of these families who have lost loved ones and we need to act on it immediately before more lives are lost," Rep. Weber said.

Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart said his office is planning to request DHS to transfer Mendoza-Gonzalez to local custody in hopes of prosecuting him for the alleged crimes, saying in a statement in part, "We believe that a criminal trial and sentencing is more appropriate than deportation procedures. The defendant is charged with several felonies, which can result in potential consecutive prison sentences upon a conviction."

While those efforts continue, Jennifer Bos is hanging onto the memories of her daughter and is now raising Megan Bos' 6-year-old child. She says she and Megan Bos went through struggles because of addiction, but this trauma has now changed her perspective as a parent.

"I thought she had changed into something she wasn't. It's not that she changed. She just had been taken over by this addiction. She was the same person she always was," Jennifer Bos said. "If parents who are struggling with their kids can understand that, I think there would be a lot more success in helping their children."

DHS says Mendoza-Gonzalez is being held in the Lake County Jail in Waukegan. It's not clear how long he'll remain there as ABC7 waits to hear what the next steps are with the investigation from DHS.

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart issued the following full statement Sunday:
"The Lake County State's Attorney's Office has been in constant contact with the family about Megan's death and the ongoing investigations by the Waukegan Police Department and the Lake County Coroner's office into the circumstances of her death and discovery of her body, which includes how and when she obtained fentanyl and what role that may have played in her death. As was previously reported, the initial autopsy reports showed no signs of trauma or a struggle and at no point was Megan decapitated before or after her death. While we have not been contacted by ICE, we are preparing an official request that this offender be held locally. As we have told the family, we believe that a criminal trial and sentencing is more appropriate than deportation procedures. The defendant is charged with several felonies, which can result in potential consecutive prison sentences upon a conviction. As people know, deportation to another country does not lead to prison in that country. If he were to agree to deportation, he could be free in days. We are hopeful that he will be brought to court so that he can be held fully accountable for his actions."