Romeo Nance's Girlfriend Hires Notable Criminal Defense Lawyer

JOLIET, IL — After being released from the Will County Jail on Jan. 25, the girlfriend of Joliet mass murder suspect Romeo Nance has decided to part ways with the Will County Public Defender's Office. Her decision to hire Joliet criminal defense lawyer Chuck Bretz as private legal counsel has already made a major difference, records at the Will County Courthouse show.

On March 12, attorney Gabriel Guzman of the Will County Public Defender's Office was notified by Will County Judge Vincent Cornelius that pursuant to the filing of the appearance of private counsel, the Public Defender's Office was given leave to withdraw as the lawyer Kyleigh Cleveland, the 21-year-old woman who lives in Plainfield.

That same day, Judge Cornelius agreed with Bretz's motion to remove the electronic motoring device from his client.

"The court, being fully advised in the premises and having jurisdiction over the parties, orders as follows: the defendant's motion is granted, in part, to allow the defendant to be removed from electronic monitoring device," Cornelius wrote. "All other remaining conditions to remain in effect, including reporting to pretrial services."

In January, the following relatives of Romeo Nance were found dead at the West Acres homes: Nance's mother, 47-year-old Tameka Nance; brother Joshua Nance, 31; aunt Christine Esters, 38, uncle William Esters, 35; and sisters Alexandria Nance, 20; Alonnah Nance, 16, and Angel Nance, 14. Romeo Nance was also suspected in the random killing of 28-year-old Toyosi Bakare, who died outside the Pheasant Run apartment buildings off South Chicago Street in Preston Heights.

On Jan. 25, Joliet Patch reported that Kyleigh Cleveland, Romeo Nance's longtime girlfriend and the mother of his 3-year-old son, was freed from the Will County Jail after Will County Judge Dave Carlson ordered her placed on home confinement. She was not allowed to leave her house at that time, according to court officials.

In February, Cleveland was charged with three counts of obstruction of justice.

The indictment indicates that Kyleigh Cleveland "furnished false information to the Joliet Police Department Detective Stephen Boe" by pretending "that she did not know the phone number of Romeo Nance" on Jan 22.

In addition to that, Cleveland provided more false information to Detective Boe, in "that she last spoke to Romeo Nance at the gym," the indictment reads.

The third count of her indictment informed the judge that Cleveland "concealed physical evidence, her cellular phone," with the intent to prevent the apprehension of Romeo Nance.

A person familiar with the Joliet neighborhood where the mass murders happened said officials believe Cleveland was present inside one of the houses while Romeo Nance killed two members of his family: his mother and his uncle.

Romeo Nance took his own life as law enforcement was closing in on him after he fled to Texas, officials said.