Crime & Safety

Grayslake Man Charged With Murder After 37-Year-Old Man Stabbed Over 10 Times In Round Lake Beach

Jesus I. Vargas, 29, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

A Grayslake man was charged with first-degree murder after he admitted to stabbing a man, who he was in a relationship with, over 10 times inside a Round Lake Beach home.

Jesus I. Vargas, 29, of Grayslake, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

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The Round Lake Beach Police Department and Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 3 p.m. Monday to the 2000 block of Apache Trail in Round Lake Beach for a report of a stabbing.

Officers arrived and found Vargas suffering from multiple lacerations, according to Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokeswoman Heather Cognac.

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Officers also found a man, now identified as Brian Mahdee, 37, of Round Lake Beach, deceased in the garage of the residence.

The Round Lake Beach Police Department requested the Lake County Major Crime Task Force to assist in the investigation.

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A witness at the scene reported that Mahdee was unarmed and was stabbed by Vargas multiple times, Cognac said.

After stabbing the victim, Vargas cut himself multiple times, the witness told police.

Vargas was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with non-life-threatening injuries.

After being released from the hospital, Vargas was interviewed by investigators and he admitted to stabbing Mahdee following a verbal altercation.

Vargas and Mahdee were believed to be in a romantic relationship, Cognac said.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and conducted an autopsy Tuesday morning.

Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steven Newton said the autopsy showed that Mahdee was stabbed over 10 times.

Vargas is in custody and being held in the Lake County Jail pending an initial bond hearing Wednesday.


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