By: Joanie Lum, FOX Chicago News
Indian Head Park, Ill. – Indian Head Park residents grew fearful as police continued to search for the person who killed a 14-year old girl. A police helicopter flew over the neighborhood for several hours, while investigators looked for evidence inside the Indian Head Park house where 14-year-old Kelli O’Laughlin was attacked.
Police say she came home from school Thursday and interrupted a burglary. They believe the burglar stabbed her with a kitchen knife which police recovered.
A neighbor saw a man walking near the house that day and described him to police. A composite sketch of that man is hanging on storefronts all over town.
Area residents say they are locking their doors, setting house alarms and feeling very uneasy.
Carol Rosentretter lives up the street from the O’Laughlins and says she went outdoors only to walk her dog. She said, “I mean it’s really scary. Why he killed her. Why couldn’t he have just left.”
Two college students agreed. “This is a nice neighborhood this kind of thing is not expected,” said Annie O’Connell.
Molly O’Connell said, “It’s a scary thing, we have a younger sister so you think of that.”
Police say they are holding a suspect in connection with a burglary that occurred over the summer, but he’s not connected to the murder.
But the entire community is hurting from this crime… and the reward for information is growing.
Indian Head Park Police Chief Frank Alonzo said the reward money has grown to $30,500. It started with an anonymous donor from out of the area and others added to it. He says, “It’s her age. Everyone is touched by this, there’s no reason this girl should have died.” Chief Alonzo says the police keep Kelli’s picture displayed in the police station.
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