Carlos Rafael Rodas Perez, a 52-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically found dead on December 8, 2020, in Beach Park, Illinois. He and his wife, Mercedes Rodas, 49, were discovered with gunshot wounds in the garage of their residence. The Lake County Coroner, Jennifer Banek, confirmed that both victims died as a result of these injuries. The Lake County Sheriff's Office and Beach Park Fire Department responded to the scene around 9:40 p.m. after receiving a call about a person down. Despite life-saving efforts by sheriff's deputies, both Carlos and Mercedes were pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into their deaths was immediately classified as a double murder, with detectives ruling out the possibility of a murder-suicide. The Lake County Sheriff's Criminal Investigations Division conducted a thorough investigation, which led to the arrest of Timothy D. Triplett, Jr., a 34-year-old man from Waukegan. Triplett was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He was apprehended on January 13, 2021, and held on a $5 million bond. The authorities did not disclose the motive behind the murders, but it was noted that Triplett did not know the victims personally.
The Lake County State's Attorney's Office indicated that they might seek a life sentence for Triplett if he is convicted. The case remains under investigation, with detectives continuing to gather evidence and information. The tragic deaths of Carlos Rafael Rodas Perez and his wife have left a profound impact on their community, and the pursuit of justice for their senseless loss continues.
