MARKHAM, Ill. — A man visiting relatives in suburban Chicago from Kentucky has been arrested when a woman’s remains were found in several bags of luggage.
Police said Melvin Martin Jr., 30, was being charged as a fugitive fleeing prosecution and faces an extradition hearing back to Kentucky, WLS-TV reported.
Martin caught a Greyhound bus from Louisville to Chicago over the past few days and was picked up there by relatives who took him to their home in Markham, police said.
Police Chief Terry White told WBBM-TV that he “brought with him luggage — two, three bags.”
“There were some early reports of a foul odor coming from the bags,” White said.
Markham, Illinois Police Chief Terry White says Melvin Martin Jr. killed his girlfriend in Louisville, then toted some of her remains (including organs) in suitcases to his family home in Illinois. "He indicated he still wanted to be with her, at least part of her." pic.twitter.com/7IjVcfoY2A
— Paul Miles ? (@PaulMiles840) September 16, 2020
Relatives told investigators that he kept asking for clothing, but never opened the bags.
While the man was at a public library Tuesday, a relative opened one of the bags and found the body parts. Police later found the woman’s head and other remains in the other bags.
The victim was from Louisville and her death resulted from a domestic assault, according to police.
Her body was dismembered at least a month ago. Police were given the location of other body parts belonging to the woman which were found Wednesday in a Louisville park.
The name of the dismembered woman was not immediately released until authorities locate her next of kin.
Markham is about 23 miles south of Chicago.
