Hillside strangling victim's alleged attackers arrested

(Original Post 5-8-08)
Martin D. Lyons, 20, and Nico Lewis, 18, of Bellwood, a Chicago suburb have been charged with 1st degree murder after allegedly strangling a woman from the neighboring suburb of Bellwood. Bond was denied after details of her rape and strangulation were read at the hearing, presided over by Judge Donald Panarese.

The victim was identified Thursday as Tanika Hinton, 21, of the 400 block of Englewood Avenue in Hillside. Hinton was found at about 11:30 a.m. Monday in a vacant lot in the 4200 block of West Arthington Street, in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood, authorities said. An autopsy determined she had been strangled, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Hinton, who had known the men for 2 months, was beated up after they complained she "talked too much," and was pushed into the back of her own car, according to Assistant State's Attorney LuAnn Snow.

Lewis pulled over, forced Hinton into the back seat of her car and sexually assaulted her, Snow said. Lyons then removed his belt, and the two men "wrapped it around the victim's neck, and pulled," Snow said.The two drove to a vacant lot in the 4200 block of West Arthington Street in Chicago and threw Hinton's body into bushes, Snow said. The woman's body was found by authorities Monday night after Hinton was reported missing by her mother.

One of Hinton's acquaintences saw Lyons driving aroung in her car, and wearing the same belt used to strangle Hinton. Hinton's cell phone was programmed with the message, "She Gone Forever."

(Update 6-5-08) Both suspects have been charged with over 2 dozen felony counts. Their arraignment will be on June 18.

[They] were each indicted on 11 counts of first-degree murder, eight counts of attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault, and one count each of aggravated kidnapping, vehicular hijacking, robbery, burglary and concealment of a homicidal death, according to Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton. Lewis also faces one count of possession of a stolen vehicle.