A 17-year-old Illinois boy is charged with first-degree murder as an adult for allegedly strangling his mother to death on August 22.
Avion Tapia, the accused, was arrested and charged with murdering his 36-year-old mother, Vanessa Tucker.
The incident came after a reported physical altercation between the two. Despite Tapia’s claim that his mother returned from work at 1 am, neighbors contradicted this, indicating she hadn’t been working that night. Tapia’s call to 911 came hours after the altercation, and medics pronounced Tucker dead an hour after their response. An autopsy revealed asphyxiation as the cause of death, with finger marks around her neck.
Tapia, though a juvenile, will be tried as an adult. He faces a $1 million bond and up to 40 years in prison if convicted.