FUGITIVE IN BARRINGTON HILLS DOUBLE HOMICIDE ARRESTED
Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today
the arrest of PETER HOMMERSON, age 60, who is a former resident
of Algonquin, Illinois. HOMMERSON was arrested yesterday evening
by FBI Special Agents, without incident, in Houston, Texas.
HOMMERSON has been the subject of an international manhunt coordinated
by the Chicago FBI since March of 1996, after a criminal complaint
was filed in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, charging HOMMERSON
with one count of Unlawful Flight to avoid Prosecution, which
is a felony offense. HOMMERSON had been charged, several weeks
earlier, by the Lake County State’s Attorney with the January
23, 1996, murders of Marvin and Kay Lichtman, whose bodies were
found inside their burning Barrington Hills residence. Both victims
had been shot and their home set on fire to cover the crime.
Investigation into their murder was conducted in joint effort
by Barrington Hills Police and the Lake County Major Crimes Task
Force (LCMCTF).
HOMMERSON was located by Mexican authorities last week in the
resort city of Ixtapa, where he was working in a local restaurant.
They were lead to HOMMERSON following tips from viewers of the
television show “America’s Most Wanted”, after
HOMMERSON’s case was profiled on the show in April of this
year. Several viewers recognized HOMMERSON following recent trips
to the area. HOMMERSON was detained in Mexico as an illegal alien
and deported to the United States, where he was then arrested.
HOMMERSON appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Houston,
late last night, at which time he was formally charged. HOMMERSON
is fighting extradition to Chicago and is being held at the Harris
County jail, pending the outcome of extradition proceedings.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt
and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent
until proven guilty in a court of law.
A copy of the UFAP complaint filed in this case is available
from the Chicago FBI Press Office at 312-786-2645. Further information
about the Lichtman murders can be obtained from the LCMCTF at
847-377-4178.
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