Who is Avion Tapia? Illinois boy, 17, allegedly strangled his mother to death
PEORIA., ILLINOIS: A 17-year-old Peoria boy is booked for allegedly killing his own mother. Avion Tapia is facing murder charges after he was considered an adult by the court.
The tragic incident took place on Tuesday, August 22, and he was arrested on Wednesday over first-degree murder, as per Peoria County State’s Office.
What did the State's Attorney's Office say about the arrest?
The office released a statement on the teen's arrest, “Avion Tapia, 17, was charged with First-Degree Murder, a Class M Felony, in the strangulation death of his mother, Vanessa Tucker, 36.
“An autopsy confirmed that Tucker died of asphyxiation, and finger marks were found on her neck," according to the statement.
The Coroner’s office also updated its Facebook page. “On arrival, Police and EMS found the female, 36-year-old Vanessa Tucker, without a pulse and not breathing,” it read.
“Resuscitation measures were initiated, and she was transported to OSF Healthcare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria in grave condition. Despite aggressive resuscitative efforts, Tucker was unfortunately pronounced dead at 5:33 a.m,” according to People.
What did the autopsy reveal?
An autopsy revealed that the mother died from asphyxiation. “This case is being investigated as a homicide and remains under investigation by the Peoria Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID),” as per the Coroner’s Office.
“Although Tapia is considered a juvenile due to his age and is being held at the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center, because of the charge, he will be tried as an adult.” Tapia is being held on a $1 million bond by the judge.
Meanwhile, Tucker’s sister created a ‘GoFundMe' fundraiser to help arrange money for funeral expenses. “ I am asking for any kind of help along the way, travel expenses, funeral arrangements, etc. any little bit will help send my sister home to be with our father,” Keeley Marie wrote.
In an unrelated case, a Florida woman is facing murder charges after her 13-year-old son was found strangled in his bed. The body was recovered at her St Cloud residence.
Jasmin Kennedy, 37, was presented in court on Tuesday, and the judge ordered that the accused should remain in custody without a bond.
"Fire rescue crew members advised that a female subject spontaneously stated that she killed her son," Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said. "According to our deputies, she had been choking him on the bed," he added, as per Law&Crime.
