Nicole De Leon, a 25-year-old mother of three, was tragically found dead in her South Chicago Heights home on June 2, 2018. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that she died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Nicole, who was of Hispanic descent, was discovered in a bedroom of the home she shared with her boyfriend, Arthur Mendez.
The investigation into Nicole's death quickly turned into a homicide case. Arthur Mendez, a 22-year-old convicted felon, was charged with her murder. Mendez allegedly shot Nicole with a revolver that fired .38-caliber bullets. The weapon was reportedly obtained from Sabastian Torres, the boyfriend of Mendez's sister, who legally purchased the gun but was not permitted to transfer it to a convicted felon. Torres was later charged with knowingly transferring a firearm to a known felon.
The South Chicago Heights Police Department had a history of domestic issues at the address where Nicole was found. Detectives spent countless hours executing search warrants, reviewing documents, and analyzing surveillance footage during their investigation. Despite the thorough investigation, the murder weapon was never recovered.
Nicole's death left a significant impact on her community. She was a recent resident of South Chicago Heights, having previously lived in Park Forest and Matteson. She was a graduate of Columbia Grammar School and attended Rich South High School. Nicole's sudden and violent death has left her family and friends devastated, and her three young children without their mother.
