Robbie Dickerson, a 42-year-old African American man from Racine, Wisconsin, was tragically killed on September 5, 2022, in Antioch, Illinois. The incident occurred during a botched drug robbery at an apartment on Main Street. Dickerson had traveled to the residence with his girlfriend to sell drugs to Hailey D. Miller, a 24-year-old resident of Antioch. Upon arrival, Miller convinced Dickerson to enter the apartment while his girlfriend waited outside. Shortly after, Dickerson's girlfriend heard several gunshots from inside the apartment.
Inside the apartment, Johnathan N. Skroko, a 28-year-old parolee from South Elgin, Illinois, emerged with a sawed-off shotgun and demanded drugs from Dickerson. In an attempt to shield himself, Dickerson grabbed Miller, but she managed to break free. Skroko then shot Dickerson in the chest. Skroko reportedly asked Miller to "finish him off" with a handgun, but she refused. Skroko fired a second shot into Dickerson, who was later found deceased in a bathtub with bleach poured over his body.
Following the shooting, Skroko and Miller fled to Wisconsin and then to Skroko's residence in South Elgin. They were eventually arrested at a hotel in Gurnee, Illinois. Both suspects were charged with first-degree murder. Skroko and Miller faced significant forensic evidence linking them to the crime, including cell phone tracking and physical evidence from the scene.
In December 2024, one of the suspects, Johnathan N. Skroko, pleaded guilty to the charges. The case highlighted the dangers associated with drug transactions and the severe consequences of violent crime. The investigation and subsequent arrests were a collaborative effort by local law enforcement agencies, ensuring that justice was served for the tragic death of Robbie Dickerson.
