Lockport Police arrest man in connection with Dellwood Park murder; State’s Attorney Glasgow files murder, criminal sexual assault charges

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December 7

LOCKPORT Lockport Police Chief Bill Kendziora and Will County States Attorney James Glasgow announce that a Lockport man has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the Aug. 26 death of 16-year-old Kaylor Spells.

Andrew Morrow, 17, of 132 Fairmont Ave., unincorporated Lockport, was charged Friday with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of criminal sexual assault. Lockport police arrested him without incident Friday morning.

The body of Kaylor Spells was found in Dellwood Park by a jogger on the morning of Aug. 26. Her body was partially clothed. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation.

Morrow was an acquaintance of Spells. He was identified as a suspect during the Lockport Police Departments exhaustive three-month investigation into the girls death. 

This investigation has been the Lockport Police Departments top priority over the past three months, said Chief Kendziora. Our team of detectives worked tirelessly to build the case that resulted in todays murder charges.

States Attorney Glasgow said: On Tuesday, we met with several police agencies to map out investigative strategies in a number of unsolved homicide cases. Our review of the physical evidence in the Spells case with the Lockport Police Department and the Illinois State Crime Lab led to the break that triggered these charges. This arrest was only possible through the dogged pursuit by the Lockport detectives and expedited testing by the state crime lab.

The two murder charges allege that Morrow asphyxiated Kaylor Spells. The second murder count alleges that Morrow killed the young girl while committing a forcible felony, specifically Criminal Sexual Assault.

An arrest warrant carrying a $10 million bail was issued for Morrow by Chief Judge Stephen White.

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.