A pregnant Chicago-area woman died on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in what police describe as a Facebook Marketplace transaction gone horribly wrong.
The victim, 30-year-old Eliza Morales of Downers Grove, Illinois, was stabbed multiple times and later found dead inside her apartment after it was set on fire by the suspect, according to court filings and law enforcement officials.
A Ford Ranger deal gone wrong
According to local news outlet ABC7, the incident stemmed from an online Facebook Marketplace car sale involving a red 1994 Ford Ranger pickup truck that Morales’ husband had listed over the weekend. The accused, 19-year-old Nedas Revuckas of Westmont, Illinois, responded to the listing and initially took possession of the truck, later arranging to meet the Morales family on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, to return license plates and complete paperwork.
Security cameras at the Downers Grove complex captured Morales greeting Revuckas at approximately 5:30 p.m. The encounter quickly turned violent inside the residence, and smoke began billowing from the apartment shortly after the meeting started. Emergency responders arrived at 6:09 p.m. to find the unit engulfed in flames and discovered Morales inside without a pulse.
A brutal stabbing and arson
Emergency personnel arrived and found Morales’ body, determining she had been attacked before the fire started. Medical examiner reports later detailed the violence, noting that she had been stabbed roughly 70 times, primarily around her neck and head. Authorities believe Revuckas intentionally ignited the home to destroy evidence of the struggle. According to court filings, the suspect’s aggression stemmed from his “frustration” with the truck’s condition.
Tragically, the attack also claimed the life of Morales’s unborn daughter. The family’s dog was also a victim, surviving a stabbing and fleeing the burning building through a sliding door before being rescued and hospitalized.
Morales’ family held a vigil on Wednesday evening, Jan. 28, remembering her as a loving mother and devoted wife. Relatives say the horror of the killing has devastated the community and raised concerns about safety in online transactions. A GoFundMe was also created to support the Morales family in the wake of the tragedy.
Revuckas was arrested late on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, and formally charged the next day. Court records show he faces multiple counts, including first-degree murder, and related charges, including charges related to the unborn child’s death. He appeared in DuPage County Court on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, for a detention hearing that was continued to Thursday, Jan. 29, so both sides could review the extensive evidence against him.
On the evening of Thursday, Jan. 29, Revuckas was transported from the DuPage County Jail to a hospital in critical condition. The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office stated the injuries appear to be self-inflicted. Revuckas is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 18, 2026, for further proceedings in the case.
Police and prosecutors continue to process evidence from the scene, including video footage, physical evidence from the apartment, and items recovered from locations linked to Revuckas.
Published: Feb 2, 2026 09:21 am