Couple Beat, Strangled Man Found Dead In Bremen Township: Sheriff

BREMEN TOWNSHIP, IL — A Chicago couple has been charged in the murder of a man who was found dead on the side of Central Avenue in unincorporated Bremen Township in July 2021.

Alberto Luces, 45, and Yessenia Bradford, 50, were charged in the death of Agustin Guinac Chaj, of Chicago, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart announced Friday. Police say Luces and Bradford beat and strangled Guinac Chaj, after luring him to their car.

At approximately 2:30 a.m. July 11, 2021, Cook County Sheriff’s Police were called to Central Avenue and 177th Street for a report of an unresponsive man found by passing motorists.

The man was unclothed from the waist down and was not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim, who did not have identification on him at the time, was later identified as Guinac Chaj.

During the course of their investigation, Sheriff’s Police detectives learned that on the night of July 10, Guinac Chaj was at the same Chicago restaurant as Luces and Bradford.

Police believe Luces and Bradford lured Guinac Chaj—whom they did not know—to their van, where he was beaten and strangled. The couple then drove his body to the area of Central Avenue and 177th Street. They then returned home.

Sheriff’s Police detectives took Luces and Bradford, both of the 1500 block of North Kolin Avenue, into custody on April 13. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved first degree murder charges for both defendants.

They appeared in bond court Friday at the Markham Courthouse, where they were denied bond.