Abel Quinones-Herstad, a 20-year-old resident of Aurora, has been sentenced to 38 years in prison for the murder of his mother, Edith Gonzalez-Alarcon. The sentencing follows his guilty plea for the crime, committed on July 14, 2022. Gonzalez-Alarcon was 55 years old at the time of her death.
Details of the Crime
Quinones-Herstad was charged with first-degree murder after he stabbed his mother 26 times at their home located in the 00-99 block of Jackson Place. The tragic event was reported during a wellbeing check carried out by Aurora police on July 15, 2022. They discovered Gonzalez-Alarcon’s body concealed in a closet.
Aftermath and Arrest
Following the murder, Quinones-Herstad fled to his brother’s residence in West Allis, Wisconsin. He admitted to his brother, “I have done something bad to our mother and could not go back.” His whereabouts led law enforcement to initiate an investigation that ended in his capture.
Legal Proceedings
After pleading guilty, Quinones-Herstad received a sentence of 38 years, which includes credit for 1,243 days already served in the Kane County jail. This punishment reflects the severity of the crime and serves to bring some measure of accountability.
Community Response
First Assistant State’s Attorney Christine Bayer described the crime as “brutal and heinous,” emphasizing its profound impact on the victim’s family and community. She expressed gratitude towards the Aurora Police Department and the West Allis Police Department for their dedicated efforts in the case.
The support provided by Victim Advocate Martha Martinez was also acknowledged, highlighting the immense strength displayed by Gonzalez-Alarcon’s family throughout the judicial process. Despite the sentence, the scars from this tragedy will linger for those affected.
