Oscar Velazquez, a 22-year-old Hispanic male from Chicago, Illinois, was tragically murdered on June 6, 2000. Velazquez, a hardworking truck driver, was shot in the back of the head and his body was subsequently set on fire. The incident occurred after Velazquez had given a ride home to 17-year-old Regina DeFrancisco in April 2000. Two months later, Regina and her 16-year-old sister, Margaret, plotted and executed his murder.
On the day of the crime, Velazquez was lured to the DeFrancisco home in the Pilsen neighborhood, where he was shot and his body was wrapped in a tarp and set ablaze using nail polish remover as an accelerant.
The investigation into Velazquez's death revealed that his body was discovered on the south side of Chicago, wrapped in a bed sheet with blood on it. The initial identification of the body was challenging due to the extensive burns, but Velazquez was eventually identified by his mother. The police investigation focused on Velazquez's missing car, a white Camaro, which was later found gutted and torched. Witnesses reported seeing two girls driving the vehicle, which led detectives to the DeFrancisco sisters.
Regina and Margaret DeFrancisco were immediately considered suspects. Their involvement was further confirmed through phone records that showed Velazquez had been in contact with Regina shortly before his death. The sisters initially evaded capture, becoming fugitives for nearly two years. Margaret was apprehended in Rockford, Illinois, in March 2002, following a tip received after a broadcast of "America's Most Wanted." Regina was captured later that year in Dallas, Texas, after a high-speed chase.
The trial of Regina and Margaret DeFrancisco began in July 2004. Both sisters were charged with first-degree murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. They pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense. However, their friend Veronica Garcia, who had provided the gun used in the murder, testified against them in exchange for a lesser charge of concealment of a homicide. Garcia's testimony was crucial in securing the convictions of the DeFrancisco sisters. Regina and Margaret were both found guilty and sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their roles in the murder of Oscar Velazquez.
