Crime & Safety
Accused Killer's Mom Goes to Prison for Hiding Son's Gun
Elva Hernandez pleaded guilty to helping her son, Juan Cuellar, dispose of his gun after Cuellar allegedly shot to death Hinsdale South graduate Joshua Holmes last fall.
The mother of the man charged with last September's murder of Hinsdale South graduate Joshua Holmes will spend two years in prison for helping her son attempt to dispose of the murder weapon, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
Elva Hernandez, 43, of Willowbrook, was sentenced Thursday by Judge Kathryn Creswell after she pleaded guilty to obstructing justice, a class 4 felony, for throwing into the Fox River the gun her son, 23-year-old Juan Cuellar, allegedly used to murder Joshua Holmes, 18, on the evening of Sept. 24, according to a state's attorney's office release.
READ: Police Charge Willowbrook Man With Murder of Hinsdale South Grad
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The following day, the state's attorney's release reads, a local resident discovered the gun and alerted the police, who recovered the weapon.
"In an attempt to help her son, who is accused of first degree murder, Mrs. Hernandez made the very bad decision to assist in disposing of the alleged murder weapon,” Dupage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. “Today’s sentence sends a message that anyone who obstructs a criminal investigation in any manner will face significant consequences.”
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On Sept. 24 at approximately 6:45 p.m., the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office received a report of gunshots fired in the area of Honeysuckle Rose Lane and Lilac Lane in an unincorporated area near Willowbrook. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies found a bleeding Holmes lying on the roadway, the apparent victim of gunshot wounds.
Holmes was transported to a local hospital where he died from his wounds.
An investigation into the matter resulted in first-degree murder charges against Cuellar.
Cuellar is currently being held in DuPage County jail on no bond. His next court date is a status hearing scheduled for April 29 in front of Judge Daniel Guerin.
See Patch's coverage of the murder of Joshua Holmes here.
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