Jose Melendez, a 52-year-old Hispanic man, was a respected figure in his East Chicago, Indiana community. A retiree from Local #17 Heat and Frost Insulators of Chicago, he was an active member of the Harbor Lighthouse Church and a former East Chicago Little League coach. His life was tragically cut short on July 14, 2010, during what was described as a senseless act of violence. On that day, Melendez was killed during a carjacking incident.
The investigation into his death led to the identification of two suspects, Terrance Strong and Jeremy Brazill.
The legal proceedings that followed were complex. Terrance Strong, a self-admitted gang member, was apprehended in Will County, Illinois, in September 2014 and extradited to Lake County, Indiana, to face charges for the murder of Jose Melendez. Strong’s legal journey included a mistrial after a juror had contact with one of Melendez's sons. In a subsequent trial, in April 2015, a jury acquitted Strong of the charges of murder, murder in perpetration of a robbery, and attempted robbery in connection with Melendez's death.
Jeremy Brazill, who was 22 at the time of the incident, was also implicated in the crime. Years later, during legal proceedings, one of the perpetrators, a 19-year-old at the time of the crime, admitted that the intent was only to steal the vehicle and that the fatal outcome was not foreseen. This individual was ultimately sentenced to 25 years in prison. The tragic death of Jose Melendez, a husband and father of four, left a significant void in his family and the wider East Chicago community.
