Watch CBS News

Escalante "Pretty Confident" Gage Park Family Massacre Will Be Solved

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Interim Police Supt. John Escalante said he's "pretty confident" the slaying of three generations of a Gage Park family will be solved, but it will take some time.

"I feel that way just based on the work that I know our people have put into this, and the updates I have been getting from them," Escalante said Tuesday.

Chicago Police detectives and the crime lab forensic team met with Illinois State Police crime lab personnel Tuesday afternoon, according to Escalante.

The purpose of the meeting was to set priority for analysis of the evidence that was recovered at the scene after six members of the same family were found dead in their home in the 5700 block of South California Avenue on Thursday.

"We don't want to be overly burdensome to the state. So that's why we want to prioritize what we think should be processed next; what we think items that may help lead us, and give us a break in the investigation," Escalante said.

Podcast

Escalante said the investigation will take time, but the fact that two of the six victims were children will drive it forward.

"Any time there's children involved in such a horrific incident, it really does motivate. As hard as it is to be involved at the scene with the investigation, it really does motivate those detectives to work that much harder to find the people or the person responsible. So I do believe we're going to get there," he said.

Police were reviewing surveillance video from CTA buses that use California Avenue, and from a camera on a light pole at 57th Street and California Avenue, hoping it could provide evidence leading to whoever is responsible for the killings.

Police sources have said they're considering the possibility a drug cartel was involved in the massacre, but Escalante said "nothing has been ruled out in terms of a possible motive."

Police said it is too early to know whether there was more than one killer.

No murder weapon was recovered. While a gun was recovered in the home, it was not used in the murders.

Only one of the victims was shot. Maria Herminia Martinez, 32, suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Her two sons – 10-year-old Alexis Cruz and 13-year-old Leonardo Cruz – and her father, 62-year-old Noe Martinez Sr., died of stab wounds. Her mother, 58-year-old Rosaura Martinez, and her brother, 38-year-old Noe Martinez Jr., were stabbed and suffered "blunt force" injuries.

All six deaths were ruled homicides.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.