Court records say the victim suffered about 70 stab wounds before smoke filled the hallway.
DOWNERS GROVE, IL — A 19-year-old Westmont man has been charged after a 30-year-old pregnant woman was fatally stabbed inside her apartment and a fire was set in the building Monday evening on the 2300 block of Ogden Avenue, authorities said Wednesday.
Officials identified the victim as Eliza N. Morales, who was five months pregnant with a girl and lived in the west suburban building with her husband and young daughter. Prosecutors say the suspect, Nedas Revuckas, faces first-degree murder and related counts after a meeting tied to a truck sale led to violence in the home. A detention hearing was postponed to Thursday as investigators outlined a detailed timeline, recovered physical evidence and sought to deny pretrial release, citing risk to public safety.
Investigators said Revuckas first arrived at Morales’ building early Monday evening for what was supposed to be a quick exchange involving license plates and paperwork for a used pickup truck the family had listed for sale. Surveillance video showed him in the vestibule around 5:28 p.m. before Morales let him inside the apartment a few minutes later. Around 5:49 p.m., the door opened and closed during what prosecutors described as a struggle. By 6:08 p.m., smoke crept from beneath the door. A fire alarm sounded a minute later, bringing firefighters who forced entry, pulled Morales to an ambulance and pronounced her dead at the scene. Her husband, Gabriel Morales, was at work. A toddler was not home.
Court documents state Morales suffered about 70 stab wounds, many to the head and neck, and showed defensive injuries. Soot was found in her airway. The preliminary cause of death lists multiple sharp-force injuries; the fetus died from injuries sustained in the attack, officials said. Prosecutors allege the suspect stabbed the family’s elderly pit bull mix between the eyes during the assault; the dog later escaped through a sliding door and is being treated by a veterinarian. Investigators said the suspect took Morales’ phone, snapped it in half and tossed it from a car window before discarding a knife and changing clothes at a nearby hardware store. Detectives recovered clothing, fragments of the broken phone and other items during searches. A pickup truck connected to the exchange was found in a Westmont driveway, and the suspect was taken into custody late Monday night.
According to the state’s attorney’s office, the case traces to a Facebook Marketplace listing for a dark red Ford Ranger that Gabriel Morales posted two days earlier. In interviews, the suspect said he was upset about the truck’s condition and “took out his frustration” on Morales after she let him inside to hand over a tool and finish paperwork. He later admitted to starting the fire using items from the kitchen and household chemicals as accelerants, prosecutors said. A search warrant executed Tuesday recovered boots and clothing with what appeared to be blood. Detectives reported finding blood inside the truck’s cabin and cash on the driver’s seat, some of it stained.
Revuckas is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, armed robbery, aggravated arson and aggravated cruelty to animals. Prosecutors said they will ask a judge to hold him without pretrial release based on the seriousness of the allegations and the detailed timeline captured on video. A joint news conference by the DuPage County state’s attorney and the Downers Grove police chief is scheduled for Thursday morning. The hearing on detention is expected before that briefing. As of Wednesday, officials had not announced additional suspects, and they said there was no known prior relationship between Revuckas and the Morales family.
Neighbors described a chaotic scene as alarms sounded and smoke filled the hallway. Some residents evacuated as firefighters arrived, while others were told to shelter briefly as crews attacked the blaze. Family members said Morales was preparing dinner when she went to the door. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life missing her,” Gabriel Morales said, adding that he intends to stay strong for their daughter. Loved ones remembered Morales as devoted to her family and said she worked in a payroll department for a children’s hospital.
Investigators said the apartment’s interior showed stacked items on the stove and melted plastic consistent with an intentionally set fire. A sexual assault kit was collected as part of standard protocol after bruising was noted; authorities said those results are pending. Police reported the suspect cried at times when left alone in an interview room and later led detectives to locations where he said he had tossed evidence. Officials said lab testing of the recovered clothing, knife and swabs from the vehicle is underway. The coroner’s full report will follow the preliminary autopsy.
As of late Wednesday, Revuckas remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail. A detention hearing and a joint law enforcement briefing are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 29. Officials said additional filings, including a formal proffer of evidence, are expected at that time.
Author note: Last updated January 28, 2026.