Ex-Roommate Charged With Killing Man, Woman In West Rogers Park
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Columbus, Ohio, man has been charged with stabbing his former roommates to death in their West Rogers Park neighborhood apartment, stealing their credit cards, and setting their apartment on fire.
Dejuan Pratt, 24, was charged with two counts each of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a credit card, as well as identity theft, possessing a stolen vehicle, and aggravated arson.
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Around 4 p.m. Aug. 28, police found Gary Brown, 64, and Chun Xiao "Cathy" Lee, 48, dead in their apartment in the 6400 block of North Sacramento Avenue. Both had been stabbed multiple times.
Their bodies were found after firefighters were sent to the scene to put out a fire in the apartment.
Brown's old employer said last month that the victim would be greatly missed.
"People loved Gary Brown, and what I know of (Lee) -- mild-mannered, quiet, nice Asian woman," said Charles Hardwick, who is employment manager of Howard Area Employment Resource Center, where Brown worked. It's where Brown met Cathy Lee, who was doing some research a few years ago and came to the office to use the computers.
Pratt was arrested Monday at O'Hare International Airport, after he was found driving Lee's car, police said. He was also found to be carrying credit cards belonging to both Brown and Lee and had used the credit cards after he allegedly killed them.
Pratt had been a recent roommate of both victims, police said.
