Eric Raya
Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow recently announced that murder and arson charges were filed against three individuals in connection with a June 3 fire that killed two women and an 11-month-old girl in Joliet.
Andy Cerros, 17, Manuel A. Escamilla, 18, and Eric J. Raya, 18, all of Joliet, were charged with six counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempt first-degree murder, and three counts of arson.
The murder charges allege they discharged a flare gun at a residence at 16 N. Center Street and that the resulting fire caused the deaths of Regina Rogers, 28, her daughter, Royalty Rogers, 11-months-old, and Jacquetta Rogers, 29. The attempt murder charge alleges they discharged the flare gun with the intent of killing a man who escaped the fire without harm.
All three individuals were already in custody on unrelated offenses. Bond in the murder case was set for each at $10 million.
Manuel Escamilla
The charges filed are the result of an intensive six-week investigation by the Joliet Police Department in cooperation with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office. State’s Attorney Glasgow credited Joliet Detectives Jim Voudrie, Tizo Landeros, Jeff German, Jose Martinez, and Darrell Gavin for their dedication and hard work throughout the course of this complicated investigation.
“These charges reflect the dogged determination these detectives and their entire division demonstrate on every single case they handle,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “They literally leave no stone unturned when it comes to protecting the citizens of Joliet.”