Strangled Schaumburg Woman's Sister Sues Accused Killer, Apartment Complex

SCHAUMBURG, IL — The sister of Tiffany Thrasher, the Schaumburg woman who was murdered in April, is suing the man accused of killing her, as well as the apartment complex they both lived in and the drywall company that rented the unit to the suspect, the Daily Herald reports. Tiffany Thrasher, 33, was found sexually assaulted and strangled to death in her home in the Lakes of Schaumburg Apartments on April 16. Bulmaro Mejia-Maya, 29, is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault and home invasion stemming from her death.

Along with wrongful death and battery counts against Mejia-Maya, the lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday by Misty King, Thrasher's sister and administrator of her estate, includes Home Properties Schaumburg LLC, the Delaware-based management company that runs Lakes of Schaumburg Apartments, and Estrellas Drywall Inc., the Florida-based business that hired Mejia-Maya and rented him the apartment where he lived with five other transient workers, according to the Herald. The suit, which is seeking more than $50,000 in damages from both companies, also levels wrongful death counts against the businesses, as well as an assumption of liability count against Estrellas Drywall and an intentional interference with a contract count against Home Properties Schaumburg, the report added. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest Arlington Heights news. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

King's lawyer told the Herald that Thrasher's sister brought legal action against the companies for allowing six unrelated people to live in the same two-bedroom apartment, which is against Schaumburg's zoning code and the village's Crime-Free Program for multifamily housing. The apartment management company also did not give Mejia-Maya and his roommates criminal background checks, something they had done with Thrasher, the report stated. In addition, the drywall company failed to sign the Crime-Free Addendum, which outlines the business' liability for criminal acts committed by its workers living in the apartment, report added.

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"My overall hope is that holding accountable those who could have protected her will make them more vigilant," King explained to the Herald about why she filed the lawsuit.

According to police, Thrasher was found dead in her home in the 2600 block of Clipper Drive on April 16 after she missed Easter morning church services. Officers conducted a well-being check after friends who were concerned over her absence at church contacted police. Thrasher's body was found inside the apartment, and investigators believe her killer possibly entered the victim's apartment through an unlocked ground-floor window.

RELATED: Neighbor Charged In Strangling Death Of Schaumburg Woman

Meija-Maya was taken into custody April 19 by US Marshals at his uncle's home in Jacksonville, Florida. He allegedly made incriminating statements when he was interrogated by detectives.

Following the discovery of Thrasher's body, King started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for a memorial service for her sister. Because of the ongoing investigation into Thrasher's death, King was unsure if her sister had insurance to cover expenses for a funeral and memorial service. The campaign had a goal of $9,500 but raised $12,855.

More via the Daily Herald

Tiffany Thrasher, 33 (Photo via Patch archive)

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