Nedas Revuckas, accused of killing pregnant woman in Downers Grove, stabbed her 70 times, prosecutors say

A 19-year-old man is accused of stabbing a pregnant woman 70 times and then setting her apartment on fire after killing her on Monday in west suburban Downers Grove.

Nedas Revuckas of Westmont, Illinois, was arrested and charged on Tuesday in the death of 30-year-old Eliza Morales. He is charged with first-degree murder with intent to cause death or great bodily harm, armed robbery, aggravated arson, intentional homicide of an unborn child, and aggravated cruelty to animals.

In a petition seeking to have Revuckas held in jail while he awaits trial, DuPage County prosecutors said Morales and her husband were selling a pickup truck to Revuckas, and had made arrangements for him to come to their apartment to return the vehicle's license plates and pick up a bill of sale.

Surveillance video from inside the apartment building shows Revuckas getting into a struggle with Morales outside her apartment.

Revuckas later told police he stabbed Morales to death with a knife and a screwdriver because he was angry about the condition of the truck. During the stabbing, Morales told Revuckas she was pregnant.

Morales' family said she had a 1 1/2-year-old daughter, who was not home at the time of the killing, and was five months pregnant with her second daughter. She was married to her high school sweetheart. 

Prosecutors said Morales was stabbed 70 times, with most of the wounds to her head and chest.

During the attack, Revuckas also stabbed the Morales' dog between the eyes, and started a fire in the kitchen by placing household items on the stove, dousing them with sanitizer and household cleaners, and setting everything on fire. He also set a fire near the front door of the apartment, where firefighters later found Morales' body.

The dog ran off after Revuckas started the fire, and is under the care of a veterinarian.

Prosecutors said Revuckas told police he took Morales' phone and destroyed it, throwing it out near a Best Buy in Downers Grove. He threw out the knife near Highland Avenue and Butterfield Road.

Bloody clothes and boots Revuckas wore during the attack were recovered inside his Westmonth home. He also took detectives to an Ace Hardware store where he had thrown out a bloodied sweatshirt he was seen wearing on video, along with Morales' husband's debit card and Morales' work ID from Lurie Children's Hospital.

At his first court appearance Wednesday morning, Revuckas' defense attorneys asked for more time to review nearly 200 pieces of evidence in the case, including photos, videos, and witness statements. He will be back in court on Thursday morning as prosecutors seek to have him held in jail while he awaits trial. Revuckas will remain in custody for now.

Morales' family planned to hold a vigil in her honor on Wednesday afternoon.