Chicago man arrested after missing girlfriend is found dead, nearly decapitated inside duffel bag
06/12/2023 11:55 am PDT
CHICAGO (TCD) -- Police arrested a 34-year-old man after his missing girlfriend was found dead inside his apartment nearly decapitated and inside a duffel bag.
Brittany Battaglia, 33, was last seen June 2 on the 1900 block of North Kimball Avenue in Chicago, and her family reported her missing several days later after not hearing from her. On June 5, her brother tweeted she was found dead in her boyfriend Genesis Silva’s apartment and that police took Silva into custody.
According to NBC Chicago, Battaglia told her roommate June 2 she was stopping by Silva’s apartment before going to a party. She reportedly never made it to the party.
Chicago Police officers conducted a traffic stop on Silva two days later and said he had a black and red backpack with him. Silva and the officers went to his apartment, where they found the duffel. Police reportedly told Silva to wait outside the apartment because they needed to secure it as a crime scene.
WGN-TV reports Silva allegedly tried to get back into his apartment via a back stairwell, but police caught and detained him. They reportedly searched him and found two cellphones, an ice pick, and two pocket knives.
Police eventually obtained a search warrant for the apartment and found Battaglia inside the bag with several stab wounds. Investigators also reportedly discovered Clorox, a Swiffer, a tarp, garbage bags, and other cleaning supplies. Silva reportedly wrote a note that read, "Can you ask avg. time until smell etc."
According to WFLD-TV, the medical examiner’s office determined Battaglia died from sharp force injuries and declared her manner of death a homicide. Investigators reportedly also found a machete inside Silva’s backpack and another in his vehicle.
Silva is also a registered sex offender. He was convicted of criminal sexual abuse by force when he was 19 and the victim was 20. WFLD reports Silva pleaded guilty to that charge and received two years of probation.
Cook County Jail records show Silva is being held without bond.
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