Geneva Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend, Her Son Detained: Mosser

GENEVA, IL — The man charged in the Dec. 26 slayings of a teen boy and his mother in Geneva was denied pretrial release, a Kane County judge ruled.

Judge Julia Yetter granted the state's motion on Jan. 14 to detain Alejandro Cota, the 50-year-old man charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the death of Christina L. Chavira, whom prosecutors said he was dating, and her son, 13-year-old Damien.

"The court's decision to detain the defendant pretrial reflects the serious nature of these charges and the need to ensure public safety as we proceed with this case," State's Attorney Jamie Mosser said in a statement. "This case involves a devastating act of violence that took the lives of a mother and her young son, leaving an indelible mark on their loved ones and our community. We are committed to seeking justice for the victims and holding the accused accountable for these horrific crimes."

Geneva police responded at 8 p.m. the day after Christmas to the 2700 block of Emma's Way for a "fatal domestic violence 911 call." Officers forcibly entered the residence after no one answered the front door and found the 13-year-old and 47-year-old with stab wounds and unresponsive, Patch reported.

Christina Chavira was treated by medics on-site before she was transferred to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to the state's attorney's office. Her son was airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center but also succumbed to his wounds.

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The Kane County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy on Christina Chavira, with preliminary findings indicating the cause of death to be consistent with multiple stab wounds. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office conducted the autopsy on the boy and found the manner of death to be a homicide by multiple stab wounds.

The boy was stabbed 37 times with multiple knives, including several that penetrated his skull and one that severed his spinal cord, according to a report from the Daily Herald. That night, police found Cota on the roof of the residence with $5,000 in cash on him.

The Geneva man has a criminal history that includes entering the United States illegally after being deported and domestic battery, the Herald reported.

Cota's next court date is set for Feb. 27.