An eighth suspect has been charged with murder in the South Side attack of two men who were dragged from their wrecked van and beaten to death by an enraged mob more than three months ago.
Sources said Terryon Deberry, 40, was sought for questioning after two men charged in the case in August placed him at the scene of the crime, using his street name–D-Dog–and one told investigators he saw Deberry knock one of the men to the ground and punch him.
Police had been unable to find Deberry until he was picked up Saturday evening by a Chicago police officer after allegedly attempting to buy cocaine in the Washington Park neighborhood.
He is charged with first-degree murder and mob action in the July slayings of Jack Moore, 62, and Anthony Stuckey, 49, after their rented van crashed into a stoop in the Oakland neighborhood, striking a teenage girl and two women–one of whom later died.
Prosecutors accused Deberry, described by his family and attorney as an unemployed machinist, of kicking Moore and Stuckey as they begged for their lives on a front yard near East 40th Street and South Lake Park Avenue.
Deberry’s family denied he played any role in the deaths.
Deberry’s wife, Loretta, said her husband was in the neighborhood with his 6-year-old son the evening of the incident to visit his adult daughter, who lives in the area. He saw what happened, she said, and gave an interview afterward to a television crew.
“They’re trying to railroad [him] for something he didn’t do,” Loretta Deberry said. “Why wait till now [to arrest him]?”
Prosecutors said police realized who they had shortly after taking Terryon Deberry into custody Saturday. Authorities say he provided information damaging to others charged in the case and signed a handwritten statement implicating himself.
Stuckey and Moore were pummeled by a crowd after Moore lost control of the van and it jumped a curb. Officials have said toxicology testing has indicated the men had drugs and alcohol in their systems at the time of the crash.
Police and prosecutors have said as many as 20 people are estimated to have been involved in the ensuing beating.
Seven men and one juvenile now face charges in connection with the case; they are accused of punching and stomping the men and eventually dropping large chunks of the broken stoop on their heads.
Records show that Deberry, who was ordered held without bond Tuesday by Judge John Kirby, was convicted in drug cases in 1986, 1992 and 1996, and received probation in each case.
Also charged with the killings are Roosevelt Lawrence, 43; his brother Henry, 47; Ricky Lawson, 43; James Ousley, 31; Lamont Motes and Robert Tucker, both 20; and Antonio Fort, 16. All but Motes and Fort are being held without bail. The state has indicated it may seek the death penalty for all but Fort.
Deberry’s wife and his sister-in-law, Mary Jenkins, said they don’t believe the allegations.
“In no way, shape or form did he do anything,” Jenkins said, calling Deberry a family man and pointing out that he has six children. “He does get in trouble now and then, but as far as being a murderer, that’s not something he would do.
“We’re not rich people, we can’t fight the system.”
Charges against several other suspects still are a possibility, prosecutors said.
