2 Years Later, Teens Linked To Violent Carjacking With Boy, 2, Inside Vehicle

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — Following a nearly two-year investigation, two teens will be charged in connection with the brutal beating of a pregnant mom in Libertyville, whose sport utility vehicle was then stolen with her 2-year-old child still inside.

• Mom Beaten, Run Over As Man Steals Her SUV With Son Inside: Police

On Thursday, officials with the Lake County Sheriff's Office announced two 19-year-old men have been identified as the suspects in the case. The men, who were 17 years old at the time of the crime in February 2023, are in custody on unrelated charges, police said.

Since they were juveniles at the time of the crime, they have been referred to the juvenile court system on charges of aggravated vehicular hijacking and vehicular hijacking, according to a news release from the sheriff's office and Lake County State's Attorney's Office. And, since they were minors, their names are not being released.

"The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is currently working to have these charges transferred and tried in adult court," according to the news release. "Until this process is completed, the Illinois Juvenile Court Act prohibits the release of the offenders’ identities."

Christopher Covelli, deputy chief with the sheriff's office, says it can take months to transfer charges from juvenile to adult court.

"It generally takes months. There could be multiple hearings in juvenile court before a Judge decides," he said.

The teens are accused of attacking a 34-year-old woman in her driveway in the 16000 block of Route 137 in Libertyville in February 2023.

The woman had pulled into her driveway in her Volkswagen and was coming back to retrieve her 2-year-old son after bringing her other young child inside her home. At the same time, a white BMW pulled into her driveway behind her car.

A man, who is described as being tall, thin and wearing a gray zip-up hooded sweatshirt and light green face mask, got out of the BMW and tried to get into the Volkswagen, according to authorities. The mom tried to protect her young son and the man then beat her, knocking her to the ground, and stealing the car with the child inside.

He and the driver of the BMW fled the area. One of the drivers ran over the woman as they fled, causing serious injuries to her extremities, according to a news release.

The mom was still able to call 911 and deputies responded immediately, police said. They searched the area and contacted Volkswagen Car-Net, which is a service that can track Volkswagen vehicles. Deputies were then able to track down the Volkswagen.

The 2-year-old boy was abandoned a short time later in a parking lot at a business in the 2200 block of Lakeside Drive in Waukegan by the suspect, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

A person at the business came to the child's aid and was able to bring him to safety before he wandered onto a nearby busy roadway, police said. The Good Samaritan called police and deputies were able to reunite the boy with his mom.

“When this crime occurred, nearly every division of the sheriff’s office was involved in trying to locate the child and identify the offenders. Our detectives continued the investigation, working tirelessly, with the state’s attorney’s office, to hold the offenders accountable and provide the initial steps of justice for the victims," Lake County Sheriff John Idelburg said in a statement Thursday. "Complex investigations like these require time and precision to ensure justice is served, and I am very proud of everyone involved in this investigation.”

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

MORE ON PATCH

• Family Of Beaten Woman Paid $150 To Reactivate Tracking Service: Cops
• $53K Raised For Family Of Pregnant Mom Beaten, Ran Over
• Stolen BMW Used In Violent Vehicular Hijacking Found: Sheriff