Carjacker Reese Miller accused of killing woman by tying her throat, leaves twisted apology note saying he’s ‘deeply sorry’
A car thief allegedly killed a woman in a Chicago suburb by strangling her throat – then left a tearful note in the stolen car apologizing for the callous crime and calling the bloodshed his “only choice.”
Reese Miller, 24, was arrested behind the wheel of Ma Operio’s Toyota three hours after the 61-year-old victim was found on August 30 with a “zip tie around her neck that was restricting her breathing.” She died four days later Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Cops recovered a knife and a twisted apology note, the outlet reported, citing prosecutors.
“I am deeply sorry for hurting anyone at the moment, it seemed to be the only choice.
“I didn’t want to hurt people. I never thought that was possible until the reality hit me.”
The Urbana, Illinois, native, who allegedly confessed to the crime, was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking.
Officers found Operio just after 6:30 a.m. outside her Harwood Heights home – the zip tie around her neck, according to the statement Harwood Heights Police Department. Officers removed it, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and took her to the hospital, where she remained on life support until her death four days later.
“They said when she was lying on the sidewalk she was already dead,” said Operio’s mother, Maria Gimeno WGNTV. “They resuscitated her when they took her to the emergency room and then she was brain dead.”
Gimeno said her daughter was cleaning her car after returning home from a vacation in Texas when she was attacked.
“The trunk of my daughter’s car was open. He went through the ass,” she told the local outlet.
A witness reported hearing “grunting” coming from Operio’s Natchez Avenue residence before seeing a man in a black hoodie on top of the woman, police said. According to WGNTV, Miller allegedly moved Operio’s body after securing the zip tie – and stole the car with the trunk still open.
Police also obtained doorbell camera footage from a man believed to be Miller. And when he was arrested, Miller was wearing the same clothing as the person caught on camera.
Hours after Miller pronounced Operio dead, police found her car in Crete – with Miller behind the wheel. He reportedly confessed after police read him his Miranda rights.
Miller was held in the Cook County Jail on bond; his next court date is September 22nd.
His public defender said he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. People reported.
His public defender said he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder People.
Gimeno told WGNTV that her daughter is a “very happy person” and “quit her job to take care of her grandson.”
