Man Who Dumped Body in Barrington Convicted of 1st Degree Murder

A Waukegan man charged with the July 5, 2011, murder of 27-year-old David Campbell, whose body was dumped in a forest preserve pond near South Barrington, was convicted of first degree murder Friday following a jury trial at the Lake County Courthouse, according to a county press release.

Defendant Jose Horta, 21, of Waukegan, pointed a firearm at Campbell inside a Waukegan body shop while other individuals struck him about the body with a hammer, zip tied his hands and feet, applied a lit blowtorch to his legs and genitals, and ultimately secured bags over his head causing his death.

Horta had been arrested along with defendants Roberto Guzman, Eric Castillo and Nadia Palacios, reported Patch.

Prosecutors alleged the motive for the murder was revenge. Prosecutors said Campbell was mistakenly targeted as one of three men who had kidnapped Guzman and sexually assaulted Palacios days before the murder, according to the Lake County News-Sun.

Read the full story at newssun.suntimes.com.

Prosecutors contended Horta assisted in transporting Campbell's body out of Lake County, ultimately placing him in a pond at Penny Road Forest Preserve near South Barrington.

Horta admitted to Waukegan detectives that he was paid $,1000 for his efforts but claimed that he just thought they were going to rob the victim. 

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2014 before Judge Mark Levitt, who presided over the four day jury trial.

Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim thanked Assistant State's Attorneys Jim Newman and Robert Money as well as the Waukegan Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff's Office for their hard work and close cooperation throughout the investigation and trial.