Mexican National Accused of Gruesome Illinois Murder Re-Arrested by ICE

In a chilling case that has sparked outrage throughout Illinois and beyond, immigration authorities have re-arrested a 52-year-old Mexican national who had previously been released despite facing disturbing criminal charges.

Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, who was living in Waukegan, Illinois, was taken into custody again over the weekend by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Mendoza-Gonzalez had initially been arrested in April in connection with the disappearance and death of 37-year-old Megan Bos, a local woman who had been missing for weeks.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Mendoza-Gonzalez is accused of concealing Bos’s corpse, abusing the remains, and obstructing justice. Authorities allege that he stored her body for nearly two months on his property—in a container filled with bleach—and decapitated her before police eventually discovered the remains.

Despite the severity and graphic nature of the charges, a Lake County judge ordered Mendoza-Gonzalez’s release shortly after his first court appearance in April. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from local officials, law enforcement, and the public, many of whom have expressed concern over how someone accused of such a heinous act could be released so quickly.

Megan Bos was last seen by her family in February, and she was officially reported missing in early March. Her body was eventually located in a large storage container behind Mendoza-Gonzalez’s residence. Authorities believe the suspect attempted to hide the body by placing it in bleach to delay decomposition and detection.

Following his initial release, the case gained national attention. Critics pointed to the state’s criminal justice policies, particularly the SAFE-T Act, as contributing factors to Mendoza-Gonzalez walking free, even temporarily. Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner was among those who voiced strong objections.

“I was stunned to learn that the man accused of this horrific crime had been released less than 48 hours after his arrest,” Gartner said in a statement. “This isn’t just about immigration status—this is about public safety, the nature of the crime, and the risks of allowing someone who could flee the country to walk out of jail.”

State Representative Tom Weber also expressed disbelief at the release decision. He questioned whether such charges should ever be considered non-detainable offenses.

“We’re talking about someone who hid a woman’s body for 51 days, didn’t call emergency services, destroyed evidence, and obstructed the investigation,” Weber said. “Why wasn’t there a full toxicology report or deeper investigation before deciding to release him?”

On Saturday afternoon, ICE agents located Mendoza-Gonzalez at a market in Chicago and took him back into custody. DHS officials have confirmed that he is now being held in an immigration detention facility, where removal proceedings may follow, depending on the outcome of the criminal case.

A DHS spokesperson issued a strong statement condemning the initial release. “It is absolutely repulsive that someone accused of such a brutal act was walking free. Megan Bos and her loved ones deserve justice, and we will ensure that justice is pursued.”

The acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, recently addressed broader concerns regarding immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies. Speaking in an interview with CBS News, Lyons explained that sanctuary jurisdictions—where local law enforcement does not fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities—make it more difficult for ICE to detain individuals with serious criminal backgrounds.

“When someone is already in jail, that’s the most efficient and safest place for us to take them into custody,” Lyons said. “But in sanctuary cities, we are forced to go into the community to find and arrest individuals who should’ve been turned over to us in the first place.”

Lyons emphasized that ICE’s priority is targeting individuals who pose serious threats to public safety. However, he also made it clear that any undocumented immigrant found during enforcement operations—regardless of their criminal history—may be taken into custody.

In the case of Mendoza-Gonzalez, the public backlash highlights the tension between immigration enforcement, local laws, and public safety. For the family of Megan Bos, the priority remains justice.

“We lost Megan in the most horrific way imaginable,” one family member said. “We hope that now, with him back in custody, the legal system will finally work the way it should have from the beginning.”

As investigations continue and the legal process unfolds, the tragic death of Megan Bos remains a stark reminder of the importance of balancing justice, safety, and accountability—both for the victims and the communities affected.