Facebook Marketplace Sale Turns Deadly: Pregnant Illinois Mother Stabbed 70 Times in Suburban Apartment
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — A planned vehicle sale arranged through Facebook Marketplace turned into a horrific crime scene this week, leaving a pregnant mother dead and a suburban Chicago community in shock. Prosecutors detailed in court Thursday that Eliza Morales, 30, was stabbed approximately 70 times inside her family's apartment.
Morales, a mother to a two-year-old daughter, was five months pregnant with her second child. The alleged attacker, 19-year-old Nedas Revuckas of nearby Westmont, now faces multiple charges including first-degree murder, robbery, arson, homicide of an unborn child, and cruelty to animals.
According to police reports cited by local media, the incident unfolded Monday evening. Gabriel Morales had listed a pickup truck for sale on the online platform. Revuckas arrived at the Downers Grove apartment to inspect the vehicle but reportedly became agitated about its condition. Investigators allege he then "decided to take out his frustration on Eliza."
Surveillance footage described by WGN-TV shows a chilling sequence: Morales handing Revuckas a screwdriver to switch license plates, followed minutes later by the teen approaching the apartment door with the tool concealed behind his back. Roughly twenty minutes after that, smoke was seen billowing from the residence.
First responders extinguished a fire inside the apartment and discovered Morales deceased. Authorities stated her dog, which had attempted to intervene during the assault, was also harmed, leading to the additional animal cruelty charge. Despite Morales reportedly telling her attacker she was pregnant during the struggle, the assault continued, prosecutors said.
"I'm gonna spend the rest of my life missing her," Gabriel Morales, who was at work during the attack, told ABC 7 Chicago. His mother, Angelica Silva, called the crime "pure evil," adding, "None of us get it — she did not deserve this."
The case has ignited fresh concerns about the inherent risks of peer-to-peer online sales, which often involve strangers meeting in private settings. While platforms like Facebook Marketplace provide transaction guidelines, safety ultimately falls upon users.
A GoFundMe established by the family describes Eliza Morales as "the type of person who would give the shirt off her back to a stranger." The fundraiser aims to support her husband and their young daughter, noting "the loss of a beloved wife, daughter, and mother — along with her unborn child — has left pain that words cannot fully express."
Community Reaction
Michael Torres, Downers Grove Resident: "It's every family's worst nightmare. We use these sites for convenience, but this tragedy forces you to rethink every interaction. The sheer brutality is incomprehensible."
Sarah Chen, Community Safety Advocate: "This isn't just a random act of violence; it's a systemic failure. Platforms profit from these transactions but invest minimally in user protection. We need verified identities and safe exchange zones as a standard, not an afterthought."
David K. Miller, Former Prosecutor: "The charges reflect the gravity of the crime—particularly the homicide of an unborn child. This will likely be a prolonged legal process, and the details emerging will be critical for the prosecution's case."
Rebecca Vance, Online Marketplace User (Sharply Critical): "How many more people have to die before these tech giants are held accountable? Their algorithm connects a killer with a victim in minutes, and they wash their hands of any responsibility. It's blood money. 'Safety tips' in a FAQ page are a joke when lives are on the line."
Nedas Revuckas is being held without bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month.