UPDATE: New Lenox Township Man Died From Blunt Force Trauma
Dwight Jones, 59, of New Lenox Township, was confirmed as the victim in an apparent homicide Wednesday evening. The count coroner determined he died from blunt force trauma, but the incident is being further investigated.
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Updated at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday
The Will County Coroner's office positively identified Dwight Jones' body to be the one found dead in Jones' home late Tuesday night. The coroner said Jones died from blunt-force trauma, but the official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Earlier, Jones' family could not make a positive identification of the body because it was too decomposed. But the coroner's office determined it to be Jones after checking his fingerprints on file with those on the body.
The Will County Sheriff's Department is investigating this as a homicide and would not release many details Wednesday. More details are expected when final autopsy and toxicology reports are complete.
Previously updated at 6 p.m. Wednesday
According to the Will County Coroner's office, the body of the man found Tuesday night in New Lenox Township was too decomposed for family to positively identify it as Dwight Jones, the resident of the home in which the body was discovered.
The coroner's office is checking Jones' fingerprints, which are on file, for comparison. A cause of death has yet to be announced, but more information is expected to be released later tonight.
Will County police were searching Jones' home for evidence Wednesday afternoon. Family could not be contacted Wednesday, and neighbors who lived next to Jones said they didn't know him well.
Previously published at 2:14 p.m. Wednesday
A New Lenox Township man was found dead in his home Tuesday night by the Will County Sheriff's Department, and he's believed to be a victim of homicide.
Sheriff's police were called to the 13000 block of 184th Place in New Lenox Township, just north of Route 6, in reference to a burglary at 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to a news release.
Dwight Jones, 59, was found dead inside his home and on a bed. The cause of death is unknown but the Will County Coroner is conducting an autopsy this afternoon. Police searched the residence after speaking to Jones' family members, who said they hadn't heard from him in a few days.
Department spokesman Ken Kaupas said the family went to the home to investigate, smelled a "peculiar odor" and found the patio door unlocked. They immediately called the police. Kaupas would not give any more details about the body.
"I’m not going into any specifics that could jeopardize the investigation," he said.
Family members also told police that Jones' gray 2008 Volkswagen Jetta, license plate A234576, was missing from the garage. Anyone with information can contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Unit at 815-727-8574 or can anonymously report it at www.willcosheriff.org.
Check back to Patch for more information as the story develops.
Ben
11:28 am on Thursday, June 16, 2011
Dwight was a very nice, even-keeled, and mild-mannered man. He was very pleasant and professional with patients and co-workers. He always followed through for whatever was requested of him and he helped many anxious patients await their radiology studies. He was very well liked in the department and will be greatly missed.
Special K
2:09 pm on Thursday, June 16, 2011
How Terrible...I hope they find out who did this. Sad... that the news is filled with killings everyday. The lack of human life. Prayers to his family & friends. Show an example of the murderer, bring back capital punishment, eye for an eye. Justice. Done.
Cassandra L. Warnsley
5:46 pm on Monday, June 20, 2011
Dwight was the most caring and compassionate man that I had worked with at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. When we first met there was an instant friendship. He would go out of his way to help anyone no matter what race, religion etc He would give you his last if you asked, no one had to take anything from him because he would give from his heart. We worked the early morning shift (5:30 am) if Dwight was ten minutes late coming in after me I would get Toni to call him up and find out where he was, what was his eta. He would laugh and say you know I'm coming in ...... We were family, we only had each other to look after us in the mornings. I will miss him but he is resting peacefully in his fathers arms. Justice will prevail. "Vengence is mine said the Lord"
Michael Sewall
8:53 pm on Monday, June 20, 2011
Cassandra, I'm sorry for your loss. I would appreciate if you could call me at 708-203-4925 or email me at michael.sewall@patch.com. I'm trying to find out more about Dwight and the person he was. Anything you could tell me about what he did for a living, hobbies, etc., I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Donna
6:18 am on Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Dwight greeted and received his patient's and their families with dignity, respect and a warm smile just as he did with his coworkers. I worked with him for 11 years and I will miss him dearly. I hope that Dwight will find comfort in God's Arms and that his family will find Justice.
D. Hawkins
Johnniuq
4:04 pm on Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Just curious if there is any new information about this case? Haven't seen or heard anything since the initial reporting. Have they found his car? Do they have any "persons of interest"? Was it personal or was robbery a motive?
Michael Sewall
6:18 pm on Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Just updated with a new article. Charges were filed today: http://newlenox.patch.com/articles/murder-charges-filed-in-new-lenox-township-homicide
viviansmith
9:31 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011
it was not personal how you going to take a strange black young guy to your house to drink with him and dont no anything about him dont nobody take no stranger to their house like that so something had to be going on that man had to be gay just to pick someone off the street in chicago ill on the hoe strip which is 73rd halsted what is he doing over there anyway and put a stranger to his house were they do that at no were not less something is going on with them you dont no the real story what happen no bodys nos what really happen so dont make our black young men feel so guilty dud was guity of whatever he done not saying that he should have not killed the man no thags not what black people do he was wrong for that but look at the bigger picture he were guy......
Special K
1:29 pm on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
@viviansmith,
Spell check!
Why is it, alot of black people have such bad grammar & speaking actual words? You are all over the place. It makes no sense. You are an embarrassment to our english language. And I'm not saying I am perfect at writing or spelling, but gosh, you need to go back to school. Getto, sounds & reads aweful!
Marie Webb
12:35 pm on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Gay or straight....whatever....what kind of person are you when you not only murder someone, but return repeatedly to the scene of the crime to steal? This Rodney Julun does not make all black young men feel so guilty, just him and the two imbeciles that participated in the stealing with him. "Hoe strip" huh? Seems like you know something about this area
D'andre Tatum
11:43 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
I agree, Dwight was smart in choosing his friends. Just this one turned bad. God
bless Dwight. Love D.T.
D'andre Tatum
2:28 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
And adding after visiting, my friend(Dwight Jones). House this Sunday 10/14/12, Leaving Fresh cut flowers, because I stay thinking God why he couldn't live on to retire as he always decuss with me. Hardly was able to place My Flowers, Trees not kept up, Vegetation growing out of his drive. Damn I now if Dwight was still living some body would Most Diffenly would have been accountable for that. D.T.