12/17/13 Chicago Man Charged With Murder of New Lenox Township Resident - Police & Fire - New Lenox, IL Patch

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Chicago Man Charged With Murder of New LenoxTownship ResidentPolice say Rodney Julun, of Chicago, beat and robbed township resident Dwight Jones, whoworked at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Posted by Michael Sewall (Editor) , February 04, 2012 at 02:02 AM

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Following a family party downtown on June 10, murder victimDwight Jones invited a Chicago man to his south suburbanhome for a drink, but police said the man was only interested ina potential robbery.

Charges were filed Tuesday against Rodney A. Julun, 22, of Chicago, in connection with the onthe 13000 block of 184th Place in New Lenox Township. Jones, 59, was found four days afterhis family last saw him, bludgeoned in the head with a lamp and decomposed beyond

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recognition.

Julun is charged with three counts of first­degree murder, one count of home invasion, threecounts of residential burglary, one count of robbery and one count of possession of a stolenmotor vehicle. His bail was set today at $5 million.

Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ken Kaupas said Jones, who was an intake specialist atNorthwestern Memorial Hospital, left a family event Friday evening and struck up aconversation with Julun on the South Side of Chicago. Jones invited Julun to his home in NewLenox Township, and the two traveled together in Jones’ car. Kaupas said the two never hadany previous contact.

“We believe Julun saw an opportunity to commit a robbery,” Kaupas said.

Sheriff’s investigators conducted numerous interviews that led them to Julun, who was pickedup in Chicago late last week and questioned. He was subsequently charged with a probationviolation and detained at the Will County Jail while the investigation unfolded. Kaupas saidthat multiple sources told police they saw Julun driving in Jones’ stolen VW Jetta, which wasfound abandoned in Harvey last week.

Investigators located two other people who police say had knowledge of the homicide: John H.White, 20, and David D. Reed, 23, both of Chicago. Kaupas said that White and Reed, whilequestioned by police, accused Julun of committing the murder.

Kaupas said Julun then contacted Reed and White, and over the following two days theyproceeded to steal numerous items, including Jones’ car, electronics, cash and jewelry.

“The home was ransacked,” Kaupas said. “We continued to recover more items even as oftoday, items pawned by these three individuals.”

Both White and Reed were charged with residential burglary and bail for each was set at$250,000. Sheriff's investigators do not believe White or Reed participated in the killing, butthey could face additional charges of concealing a homicidal death.

Jones’ family had not heard from him since seeing him that Friday night, June 10, and after hemissed a family party on June 14 they went to his home to investigate. They immediatelycontacted police after finding the patio door unlocked and a peculiar odor coming from thehouse. According to Jones’ cousin, Gail Page, the family buried him last Thursday.

“Dwight enjoyed family, which is why the family knew something was wrong when he did notshow up for a family event,” Page said in an email. “He had no children of his own, but hehelped raise a lot of children and was godfather to several. Dwight was a son, a brother, an

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uncle, a nephew, a cousin, a brother, a friend and so much more. He was diligent in takingcare of his mother.”

Co­workers from Northwestern Memorial Hospital also shared memories in the comments of aprevious article.

“Dwight greeted and received his patients and their families with dignity, respect and a warmsmile just as he did with his coworkers,” former co­worker Donna Hawkins said. “I worked withhim for 11 years and I will miss him dearly.”

passion jones­wade June 29, 2011 at 01:26 PMThis has got 2 b 1 of the hardest things we had 2 deal with as a family.....Recommend

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12/17/13 Chicago Man Charged With Murder of New Lenox Township Resident - Police & Fire - New Lenox, IL Patch

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Susan Deneen June 29, 2011 at 02:20 PMMy heart goes out to the Jones family. May God give you strength and peace during this difficult time.Recommend

Special K June 29, 2011 at 02:26 PMPrayers of love to the Jones family. What a horrible crime. I hope the family finds some kind of peace thatthese, LOSERs have been caught. I really wish they'd hang them, or use a bullet rather than put themthru a costly court system. It sounds like Dwight was a very loving, giving person. Shame these thugspreyed on him. Kinda makes you think twice on lending a helping hand to a stranger. And alot of people doneed a hand every once in awhile. peace.Recommend

Cynthia121707 June 29, 2011 at 10:06 PMSomething doesn't sound right about this I know Rodney personally and know he wouldn't do somethinglike this just because he's not cold hearted. He was invited there and Something had to of happen to makehim do such a thing and since no one knows exactly what happened then they shouldnt have anything tosay my prayers goes out to all families that are connected with this situation and especially stretch keepyur head up.Recommend

Missy June 30, 2011 at 05:15 AMSeriously????? What on EARTH could have been done to MAKE a person do something like that?? Andafter the poor man was dead I suppose something MADE him and his buddies rob the man's home andsteal his car right? Get a clue!Recommend

Marie Webb June 30, 2011 at 04:15 PM@Cynthia...are you sure you knew Rodney? We knew it would not take long before someone came forwardclaiming what a good person he was. Do you know any of the details? Read the newspaper accounts. Hewas beaten to death. Gasoline was poured over his body. His car was stolen. He made repeat trips back tothe house over several days as Dwight lay dead and decomposing in his bed to steal. If this is not evidenceof a cold hearted person, then I don't know what is. How do we know that this Rodney you know so wellhas not done this before? Rest assured our heads are up and we are prayed upRecommend

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Missy Strong July 07, 2011 at 01:16 AMthese are only newspaper accounts and what police think. people shouldn't judge until the final verdict.rodney just had a newborn son with his fiance less than a month ago. he was attending college. he was inbetween jobs but rarely drank alcohol and has never used hard drugs not once in his life. something wentwrong here. this wasn't his personality. i pray for peace for the jones family.Recommend

Missy July 07, 2011 at 05:40 AMOnly newspaper accounts huh? Well what about the people who saw dear Rodney driving in the victim'scar? Why are his two buddies admitting that Rodney killed him? And by the way...there can be no "finalverdict" unless people actually judge him first. All of the evidence that led the police to arrest him willprobably wind up convicting him. And never used "hard " drugs once in his life? Unless you were with himevery second of his life you can't say that for sure...and even if he used no drugs at all...what does thathave to do with anything? The evidence against him is pretty damning.Recommend

Marie Webb July 08, 2011 at 04:48 PMLindsey, something did go wrong here. Dwight Jones was brutally murdered in his own home. It would notsurprise me if we found out Rodney Julun has done something almost as reprehensible as this before, butwas never caught. I believe the Jones family will have peace when Rodney is convicted along with hiscohorts who found nothing wrong with returning to a home containing a dead body to loot it. They werecharged so far only with burgulary. They should also be charged with concealing a homicide.Recommend

Mo July 09, 2011 at 05:16 AMRodney was already on probation for robbery, AND had torched that place. So that is obviosly his mo. I amnot saying how he got to Dwights house was right, but no one has the right to take another persons life atall. Dwight would not hurt a fly. Cold hearted, yes he is. Even with a baby on the way get a job and takecare of responsibilities. Taking peoples stuff they worked hard for, the nerve!! Jail will be nice for him.Recommend

Marie Webb July 09, 2011 at 02:34 PM@ Mo....the assumption is that Rodney told the truth about how he got to Dwight's house. Anyone whoknew Dwight also knew he was not in the habit of taking strangers to his home; and he chastized peoplehe knew that brought strangers to his home without informing him first. I hope the investigators dig alittle deeper into his story of how he got out to New Lenox. I mean, it's not like public transportationstopped right at the door. As far as I am concerned, jail is too good for himRecommend

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Manuel Mabins July 13, 2011 at 08:19 PMPray and i send prayers to both parties in this sad situation.Recommend

Raydeeohh December 27, 2011 at 09:31 PMWe all have assumptions and to assume Rodney was lying or telling the truth, we don't know or to assumeDwight invited him our didn't, we'll never know. What w do know is Rodney killed Dwight, but we maynever know why. W do know that GOD has the answer n knows exactly what has happened. We know lifeis short n precious. We must live life a if it were our last day n live it to the fullest. Let us not passjudgment on anyone, lets let the courts, law n GOD do what they do best. My prayers go out to allconnected.Recommend

Missy December 27, 2011 at 09:52 PMMy prayers go out to the poor murder victim and his family. Rodney doesn't deserve any as far as I'mconcerned. He made a choice and there are now consequences to be paid.Recommend

cingularmannnnnnn@yahoo.com May 12, 2012 at 02:40 PMthis is why i vote republicanRecommend

cingularmannnnnnn@yahoo.com May 12, 2012 at 02:43 PMthis is obamas and the democrates fault. the welfare system has ruined this country. black mama haskid,starts getting welfare(dad nowhere to be found) kids turns 18. mom kicks kid out.kid joins gang(dadnowhere to be found) mama has another 2­3 more welfare babies,and over and,and over.Recommend

cingularmannnnnnn@yahoo.com May 12, 2012 at 02:48 PMI think this jones fellow was a little queer,and want to get busy with the killer(julun) and things went bad.Recommend

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Thom Leonard June 07, 2012 at 01:15 AMFirst off, you racist pos, welfare as we know it was created as part of the New Deal under PresidentRoosevelt. Obama wasn't even alive yet. Second, gang involvement begins in the pre­teen years, notwhen they turn 18. Third, white America created the toxic conditions that black americans are forced tolive in. After enslaving, then segregating them, all the while committing unspeakable acts of brutalityagainst them, where they just supposed to move into our neighborhoods and into our workplaces? Hell no,because bigots like you would burn crosses in their front yards and lynch them in the town square. Thinabout your twisted ideas before you let them out of your mouth or onto a computer screen. You need todo some serious soul­searching (if you posess one) and think about who you hurt with your comments.(Here is a hint: it is not "black mama" or her "welfare babies")Recommend

cingularmannnnnnn@yahoo.com June 07, 2012 at 03:29 PMthom leanard is on welfare,section8,link,and wic. he tell the state he's black ,but we know better. leach!!!!!!Recommend

cingularmannnnnnn@yahoo.com June 07, 2012 at 03:30 PMthom leonard sorry,but he's still a welfare leach.Recommend

dagreatgazoo June 22, 2012 at 02:19 PMNo disrepect to the family but I think that is what may have happened. You just don't pick up a dude younever knew and bring him all the way to your home to drink for no reason. Something does not add up.Regardless of Mr. Jones sexuality that does not give the other guy the excuse to take his life.Recommend

D'andre Tatum September 19, 2012 at 06:03 AMDwight was smart, just trusted the wrong person, to befriend.Recommend

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