Posted on 10/12/2013 10:52:45 AM PDT by nickcarraway
SUV involved in high-profile murder case before current owner bought it
A man separated from his vehicle for almost a year through no fault of his own, finally got it back. Cook County investigators suspected Jose Aguirre's SUV played a role in a 2007 high-profile double murder case,.
Aguirre was not the owner of the 2002 Cadillac Escalade at the time of the murders, and is suspected of no wrongdoing.
Still, when a search warrant was presented and the car whisked away, Aguirre was left paying his car note, and struggling to find a way to get to his job at a South Side auto factory.
He says he was patient, and understood that justice was at stake. But as the weeks grew into months, Aguirre says he couldn't get any answers about when he might get his vehicle back. He says detectives originally told him it might take "two to three weeks," and when that timeline ran into eight months and he still couldn't get answers, Aguirre turned to NBC5 Investigates.
The Cook County State's Attorney would not comment on its handling of Aguirre's WUV in connection with the investigation, but a prosecutor did release the vehicle the same day NBC5 Investigates called.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart told NBC 5 the case could have -- and should have -- been handled very differently.
"What happened to Mr. Aguirre was just plain wrong," Dart said. "There needs to be a more thoughtful process for somebody whose life has been interrupted and had nothing to do with anything."
Aguirre now has the vehicle back, but it's in no shape to hit the road. The interior is ripped apart, and investigators say they could not acquire the parts needed to put it back to its original shape. They offered Aguirre a repair job, or the money to do it himself. Aguirre says he chose the latter option, because his family wants no part of riding in a vehicle clearly connected in some way to a double murder.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart's office found the funds to pay Aguirre back for all the car payments he made while the car was in custody, as well. The money used comes from funds seized from drug dealers. Aguirre says he now plans to sell the SUV for scrap parts, and move on. There's no word from investigators if evidence was ultimately found in Aguirre's vehicle, and the murder investigation continues.
Poor guy. Just an average guy...driving a Cadillac?
They probably used the vehicle for union meetings and other vital errands. Would be interesting to know if the mileage was the same.
Yeah those rich people deserve what they get.
Probably got it for 15 grand, don’t see what your objection is.
I knew a guy who worked a minimum wage job and had an Audi sedan. Got drunk one night and totaled it. A few days later went out and bought a new Audi sedan. I guess he had his priorities. Always wondered how he fed his wife and 3 kids.
An 11 year old Cadillac. Regardless of his economist status, should his property be subject to seizure, without compensation?
No, it shouldn’t.
A 10+-year-old Cadillac. The Escalade is the vehicle of choice for the working poor in my area. Of course, the vehicle is usually running around with no tags, non-working brake/tail lights, and a stereo system worth twice what the vehicle would be on a good day. Chock full of kids and moms with EBT cards.
I’ve never understood how the cops can seize any property at all without going through a court of law and due process.
It seems unconstitutional.
When I first saw the headline, I momentarily thought that maybe this was about the Hernandez case, or cases.
I’ve never understood how the cops can seize any property at all without going through a court of law and due process.
It seems unconstitutional.
“Still, when a search warrant was presented and the car whisked away, Aguirre was left paying his car note, and struggling to find a way to get to his job at a South Side auto factory.”
It seems they did go through a court of law to get a warrant. Still it turned into a flagrant abuse and I too wonder just how many miles were added to the vehicle while it was being “searched”.
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