Willis Jefferson was stabbed to death early Sunday in the River North neighborhood on the Near North Side.

The 29-year-old was discovered on a sidewalk with multiple stab wounds to his back in the 800 block of North Orleans about 2:20 a.m., police News Affairs Officer Amina Greer said.

Jefferson, of the 7200 block of South Vincennes, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, authorities said.

Tylesha G. Griffin ordered held without bond Monday in the death of her 3-year-old son Donnell Coakley at their West Ridge home.

Griffin faces one count of first-degree murder, a statement from Chicago Police said. A police source confirmed the boy was her son, Donnell Coakley.

His parents found him unresponsive in his bed about 8:40 p.m. Friday at their home in the 6500 block of North Seeley, authorities said at the time.

He was taken to Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was pronounced dead at 9:55 p.m., the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy performed Saturday was inconclusive pending further studies.

Earlier in the day, Griffin and Donnell’s father left the boy in a relative’s care while they attended the father’s appointment with his parole officer, according to a police source.

When the parents returned home, the boy was found lying in bed in his own vomit, a police report said. The parents cleaned the toddler up and put him back to bed, but found him unresponsive some time later and called authorities.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found wounds on Donnell consistent with the boy’s wrists being bound, the police report said.

The boy also had wounds to his torso, which were in various stages of healing, the report said. When officers asked Griffin about the nature of the injuries, she allegedly said he was disciplined with a belt from time to time.

An investigation determined Griffin was responsible for Donnell’s fatal injuries, police said in the statement.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigated allegations of neglect by the boy’s mother and father, spokesman Karen Hawkins said. Donnell’s two siblings have been taken into protective custody under a DCFS-monitored safety plan.

The agency had previous contact with the mother in 2011, also for allegations of neglect.

Griffin was ordered held without bond Monday and will next appear in court Nov. 26, according to the Cook County sheriff's office.

Aaron J. Starling was found shot to death inside an apartment early Monday afternoon on the Near West Side.

Officers found Starling, 29, inside an apartment in the 2400 block of West Harrison about 12:45 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The man had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his back.

Starling lived on the same block he was shot, according to the medical examiner’s office.

He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead at 1:13 p.m., authorities said.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

Rogelio Margil died after he was wounded in what police are calling a gang-related shooting Saturday night in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the West Side.

Margil, 21, was with a group in the 1600 block of North Tripp about 7:30 p.m. Saturday when they encountered a rival gang member and an argument began, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The gang member pulled out a gun and shot the 21-year-old man in the head before running away, police said.

Margil, of the 1400 block of North Kildare, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died at 3:22 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

An autopsy Tuesday found he died of a gunshot wound to the head and his death was ruled a homicide.

Keith Martin / Photo from Chicago Police

Keith Martin is being held without bond after he was extradited from Wisconsin in connection with a July shooting that left Adarrius Thompson dead and Thompson's mother wounded in Chicago Lawn.

Martin, 47, of the 6200 block of South Rockwell is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm, according to Chicago Police.

A warrant was issued for Martin just days after the domestic-related shooting that happened in the 6200 block of South Rockwell on July 12, according to a community alert issued at the time. Police said then that Martin was believed to be “armed and dangerous.”

The shooting happened about 1:15 a.m. after Martin got into an argument with a 27-year-old man and his 50-year-old mother, according to police. Martin then left, but came back with a gun and shot them both, police said.

Thompson, 27, who lived in the same block, was pronounced dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

His mother was also shot in the chest and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition, authorities said.

Martin, whose home address is listed as the block where the shooting occurred, was ordered held without bond in court Monday. He is next scheduled to appear in court Dec. 1.

Walter Velez was fatally shot in the face early Monday in the Northwest Side Belmont Cragin neighborhood.

Velez, 26, was standing in an alley with friends in the 2100 block of North Merrimac about 12:15 a.m. when someone walked up, yelled gang slogans and opened fire, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Velez was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood where he was pronounced dead at 2:41 a.m., the medical examiner’s office said. His home address was not yet known.

An autopsy Tuesday found he died of a gunshot wound and ruled his death a homicide, the medical examiner’s office said.

A pizza delivery driver was fatally shot in the head during an attempted robbery on the Northwest Side early Monday.

Abylbek Yzabekov, 31, was delivering a pizza in the 5400 block of North East River Road when two males walked up to the car and announced a robbery about 12:20 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

One of the robbers then shot Yzabekov in the head, authorities said.

Yzabekov, who lived on the block, died at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge at 4:22 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Yzabekov's friend was with him when the gunfire erupted, but he was not injured, authorities said.

The suspects ran off after the shooting without any money, police said. Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Donnell Coakley / Photo from Cook County Sheriff's office

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

After determining that her viciously abused and malnourished 3-year-old second cousin was dead, a West Ridge woman allegedly went out, bought some marijuana and then smoked it with the child’s parents near the toddler’s battered corpse.

Tylesha Griffin, 22, and Donnell Coakley Sr., 24, allegedly tried to warm their son’s body after Coakley tried to resuscitate Donnell Coakley Jr. Friday night.

But Griffin didn’t call 911 until hours later well after the little boy took his last breath, Cook County prosecutors said.

The couple was charged in Donnell Jr.’s murder, as was 25-year-old Dominique Lott, who allegedly admitted to whipping the child with her hand, belt and an electrical cord.

Lott, who had been living with Griffin and Coakley in the 6500 block of North Seeley Avenue, told police she’d also put her foot down on the child when hitting him and beat him for not knowing his numbers or the alphabet, Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Molesky said.

Lott, who had bought pot for the couple to smoke before the authorities were called, said Griffin would often ask her to beat Donnell Jr., Molesky said.

Lott allegedly watched Griffin beat Donnell Jr. two to three times a day and noticed that he stopped eating a week before his death, Molesky said.

Donnell Jr. had over 100 injuries on his back, buttocks, arm, legs, chest, lips and head.

His front tooth was chipped and he had injuries on his wrist consistent with being bound, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Portions of the boy’s lower body exhibited “trauma and his left arm had a gaping wound with exposed rotting muscle and skin, Molesky said.

Tylesha Griffin / Photo from Chicago Police

Had he been alive, that arm would likely be amputated, Molesky said.

Donnell Jr. had patches of hair missing on his head, bruising on the tips of his fingers and a missing fingernail, Molesky said.

On Griffin’s cellphone officers allegedly found a picture of a naked Donnell Jr. standing in his living room with injuries on his legs and back.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigated allegations of neglect by the boy’s mother and father, spokesman Karen Hawkins said. Donnell’s two siblings have been taken into protective custody under a DCFS-monitored safety plan.

The agency had previous contact with the mother in 2011, also for allegations of neglect.

Lott also previously hit Donnell Jr.’s 4-year-old sibling with a stick and belt for misbehaving, Molesky said.

Griffin was ordered held without bond on Monday.

On Wednesday, Judge Donald Panarese Jr. also ordered Lott held without bond.

Coakley was held in lieu of $500,000 bond earlier this week.

Milan Lekich / Photo from Chicago Police

BY STEFANO ESPOSITO AND JON SEIDEL
Chicago Sun-Times

The case of a South Side man found chopped up outside his garage last month is not expected to lead to any arrests, with investigators increasingly confident his live­-in girlfriend acted alone before committing suicide, sources tell the Chicago Sun-­Times.

The Chicago Police investigation, which is expected to wrap up in a matter of days, hasn’t uncovered what may have prompted Teresa Jarding to kill Milan Lekich and store his body near the home they shared in the Hegewisch neighborhood, the sources said this week.

The circumstances surrounding the case continue to baffle close friends and neighbors of Lekich, a well-­liked electrician who enjoyed riding his touring Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Lekich’s remains were found Oct. 5 outside his garage in the 13300 block of South Avenue M -- after he’d been missing for more than a year. Investigators later determined that he’d been shot to death.

Authorities had wanted to question Jarding, 49, about Lekich’s disappearance. But when they finally made contact with her in late September at a home she owned in tiny Fowler, Ind., she was near death with a gun by her side.

Jarding was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died the next day. On Oct. 15, authorities revealed that Jarding had committed suicide by “acute mixed­-drug toxicity.”

The mystery deepened when investigators found the remains of Jarding’s mother’s body at the Fowler home. Investigators later said that Nena Metoyer, 68, died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators are still awaiting the results of firearms testing in the Metoyer and Lekich murders.

A south suburban man died four days after being shot in the Brighton Park neighborhood this month.

Kyle Robertson, 23, was shot in the head and arm about 8:30 a.m. Nov. 7 in the 4700 block of South Western Avenue, authorities said.

Robertson attempted to drive himself to Mount Sinai Hospital, but crashed into another vehicle in the 2800 block of South California Avenue, authorities said.

Robertson, of the 20100 block of Joy Lane in Lynwood, died at Mount Sinai Hospital at 6:55 p.m. Nov. 11, according to the medical examiner's office.

A Saturday autopsy confirmed Robertson died from the gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating.

Antonio Valentine died Oct. 31 from injuries he suffered when he was shot in the head Aug. 1 in the North Lawndale community. Reader "Vince" posted this about this killing:

I hope the people involved in this crime are caught. Poor guy probably suffered the past 3 months because of what was done to him. Sure need God's Kingdom so we can have some peace on this earth!

Joseph Lewis, 39, was fatally shot Nov. 6 in the South Shore neighborhood. Reader "loved one" posted this about him:

Yes he was awesome and humble. I love my cousin and I'm certainly going to miss him but never will I forget him. May God be with his children, his mom, his sister and our family & friends but yet keep his soul at peace. Love you forever Joe.

Luis Zuniga, 44, was fatally shot Sunday afternoon in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. Reader "Sonia" posted this about him:

Thank you all for the encouragement through these horrible moments where we are trying to accept the reality of knowing we won't share laughs with him again.... He was an awesome friend, dad, brother and overall person; a man of God.

Aaron Starling was found fatally shot in his Near West Side home Monday. Reader "Totti" posted this about him:

Rest on Aaron, i worked right across the street from his home, so sad, nice guy, truely will be missed.

Anthony Jackson was fatally shot in the Humboldt Park neighborhood Saturday afternoon.

Jackson, 22, was in a vehicle traveling north in the 700 block of North Hamlin Avenue when a car pulled alongside and somebody inside opened fire about 2:10 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Jackson, of the 300 block of West Lexington Street, was shot in the back and died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Zoraida Feliciano was fatally shot outside her Humboldt Park home Saturday night.

Feliciano, 33, was a passenger in a car parked in front of her residence in the 3700 block of West Potomac Avenue about 6:45 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

When the driver exited the car to get Feliciano's child from inside her home a white Toyota Camry approached and a gunman got out of the backseat and opened fire, according to a police report.

Feliciano was shot in the head, and the driver got back in the car and attempted to take her to Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, according to the police report.

Before reaching the hospital, the car crashed at North California Avenue and West Division Street, according to the police report.

Police said an ambulance took Feliciano to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where she died at 1:03 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The driver was not injured in the crash, police said.

After the shooting, the Camry fled west on Potomac Avenue and nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago

Ten people were shot to death throughout Chicago last week.

Five of the killings happened over the weekend, when at least 16 other people were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killing happened when police found 30-year-old Dalon Marquis Mobley shot to death on a sidewalk in the 11600 block of South Racine Avenue in the West Pullman neighborhood about 5 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Mobley, of the 600 block of West 129th Place, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

On the Near West Side, a gunman opened fire during a party in a basement apartment in the 800 block of South Oakley Boulevard and shot 24-year-old Kendall Warren multiple times about 3:10 a.m., authorities said.

Warren, who was shot at least once in the head, later died at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, authorities said.

Two other men were critically wounded during the shooting, police said.

On the Near North Side, police found 27-year-old Nacurvie Smith shot in a car that had crashed into several parked vehicles in the 400 block of West Evergreen Avenue about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Smith, of the 1200 block of North Cleveland Avenue, later died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the medical examiners' office.

On Saturday, 33-year-old Zoraida Feliciano was shot in the head as she sat in a car parked in front of her home in the 3700 block of West Potomac Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood about 6:45 p.m., authorities said.

After the shooting, an acquaintance attempted to drive Feliciano to Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, but crashed before arriving at the hospital, according to a police report.

Paramedics took Feliciano to Stroger Hospital, where she died early Sunday, authorities said.

Also in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, 22-year-old Anthony Jackson was shot in the back while inside a vehicle in the 700 block of North Hamlin Avenue about 2:10 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

Jackson, of the 300 block of West Lexington Street, died at Mount Sinai Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said.

On Thursday, police found a 20-year-old man shot multiple times inside a vehicle in the 5700 block of South Princeton Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood about 2:15 p.m., police said.

The man was taken to Saint Bernard Hospital, where he later died, according to the medical examiner's office, which has not yet released his name.

On Monday, 29-year-old Aaron J. Starling was shot in the back multiple times and police officers found him inside an apartment in the 2400 block of West Harrison Street about 12:45 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

Starling, who lived on the block, was declared dead less than an hour later at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the medical examiner’s office.

On the Northwest Side, 31-year-old pizza deliveryman Abylbek Yzabekov was shot during an attempted robbery during a pizza delivery in the 5400 block of North East River Road, authorities said.

Yzabekov, who lived on the block, died at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge at 4:22 p.m. Tuesday, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The killing started when a gunman yelled gang slogans and shot 26-year-old Walter Velez as he stood with friends in an alley in the 2100 block of North Merrimac Avenue in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood about 12:15 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Velez died at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood hours later, according to the medical examiner’s office, which did not release his home address.

Additionally, 23-year-old Kyle Robertson, of the 20100 block of Joy Lane in Lynwood, died Tuesday from injuries suffered when he was shot in the head and arm about 8:30 a.m. Nov. 7 in the 4700 block of South Western Avenue in the Brighton Park community, authorities said.

Overall, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 391 Chicago deaths in 2014 a homicide — including 14 people killed by police.

Chicago Police, which counts murders different by following federal guidelines, have ruled some of those homicides as involuntary manslaughter, justified self-defense or accidents.

Dalon Marquis Mobley was fatally shot in the West Pullman neighborhood Sunday evening.

Police found Mobley, 30, shot multiple times in the 11600 block of South Racine Avenue about 5 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Mobley, of the 600 block of West 129th Place, died at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area South detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Nacurvie Smith was shot to death in the Old Town neighborhood early Sunday.

Police found Smith, 27, shot multiple times inside a vehicle in the 400 block of West Evergreen Avenue about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

After the shooting, the vehicle crashed into several parked cars before coming to a stop, police said.

Smith, of the 1200 block of North Cleveland Avenue, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police said another vehicle was seen leaving the scene, but a description was not available.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area North detectives are investigating.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Marc Williams, 17, was fatally shot Oct. 26 in the South Chicago neighborhood. Reader "shyy reed" posted this about the killing:

I need to know why this young man would killed my baby! Why! Don't you believed in God! Why so evil!