Cesar Cervantes, a 45-year-old man, was found dead on March 21, 2025, in a home located in the 6100 block of South Justine Street in Englewood, Chicago. His body bore multiple gunshot wounds, and his head was covered with a plastic bag secured with duct tape. His hands and feet were bound with zip ties, and a black. 38-caliber revolver was discovered on the floor next to his head.
Cervantes had been living in the home where his body was found.
Another man, Adalberto “Sabu” Santiago, a 59-year-old reputed gang leader of the Spanish Cobras, was also found dead at the scene. Santiago had been shot in the back and was wearing black gloves at the time of his death. Authorities suspect that Santiago may have robbed and shot Cervantes before a third individual intervened and killed Santiago. A witness reported hearing gunshots around 1:30 p.m. on the day of the incident and saw a man fleeing from the back door of the house.
Santiago had a criminal history, having been released from federal prison in 2019 after serving a 20-year sentence for a drug conviction. His parole ended in late 2024. He had previously been suspected of orchestrating a gruesome murder in 2004, though he was never formally charged for the crime. Despite his past, investigators have yet to determine the full circumstances surrounding his and Cervantes' deaths.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the killings. Authorities continue to investigate the case, seeking leads on any suspects who may have been involved in the violent incident.
