The husband of a 41-year-old suburban Ghanaian woman whose body was found stuffed into a suitcase and dumped in a trash bin has been charged with the woman's slaying, authorities disclosed today. Jeffery McCree, 33, an ex-convict released from prison less than a week before his wife disappeared, has been charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide in connection with the death of Vida McCree, authorities said.
The suspect's bond was set at $1.5 million during an appearance this morning in the Wheaton courtroom of DuPage County Judge Bruce Kelsey.
Vida McCree, of the 7200 block of Woodward Avenue, Woodridge, was last seen Wednesday. Her roommate reported her missing the following day.
The missing woman's body was discovered Friday in a suitcase in a trash bin on the 4600 block of West Ohio Street on Chicago's West Side. An autopsy concluded that she had been strangled.
The victim's car was recovered Saturday near the Chicago home of Jeffery McCree's mother, according to Assistant State's Atty. Alex McGimpsey.
A witness told police of seeing the husband dragging a suitcase out of his wife's apartment, down a staircase, across the parking lot and into her car, McGimpsey said. The suitcase left skid marks on stairs, walls and the ground outside.
The suspect was released from prison April 23 after serving about three years of a six-year sentence on a residential burglary conviction, the prosecutor said.
Jeffery McCree has 27 prior criminal convictions, mostly on burglary and minor drug offenses, and has served three stints with the Illinois Department of Corrections, McGimpsey said.
The defendant was represented in court today by a public defender. His next court date was set for June 7.