Mom, 4-year-old son found dead in Stone Park home identified

STONE PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- Detectives from the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force are investigating the deaths of a woman and her young son who were found dead Thursday night in west suburban Stone Park, police said.

The bodies of 31-year-old Marian Cruz and her 4-year-old son, Corbin Barraza, were discovered in a home in the 1700-block of Mannheim Road, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Friday. There was a large police presence outside the home early Friday, as investigators collected evidence.

Stone Park Police Chief Chris Pavini said Friday morning the deaths appear to be the result of "an isolated domestic-violence incident." As of 11 a.m. Friday, the cause of death has not been made clear.

Anthony Gomez, a neighbor, said he heard the woman's family members screaming Thursday night. He said what happened inside was gruesome.

"It was the mothers - and two other people - two other women and a young kid that were inside. They said that the little boy was dead. So, I went inside and I seen the little boy on the bed. I asked for the mom, and they said she was still there. When I go to the back, she was in the bathroom, face down. I mean... then I ran back outside," Gomez said.

Constantinos Kappas, who owns the building, said he rented the unit to Cruz back in August and that a boyfriend was also living there.

"The boy was coming up telling me, 'Senor, make me a sandwich,' and I ask him, 'How old are you?' 'Four, cuatro,'" Kappas said.

The landlord said he thought it was strange that he didn't see her all day Thursday.

"I feel sorry for her and her boy," Kappas said.

"She was a good person, you know? She was a hard-working mom," Gomez said.

Cruz also had two other children, who live in another home. No one is in custody.