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Hanover Park man denied bond in 2001 death

A Cook County judge denied bond Friday for a former Hanover Park man charged with first-degree murder in the May 2001 drowning death of 28-year-old Flavio Venancio, also of Hanover Park.

Venancio was discovered by a mosquito abatement employee in a Schaumburg pond on May 25, 2001.

Jose Camacho, 43, the man charged with his murder, was extradited from Mexico Thursday on a federal arrest warrant.

Authorities say he and Venancio were driving in Camacho’s car after drinking together. After Venancio urged Camacho to drive faster, Camacho lost control and crashed into a guard rail, authorities said.

After checking the damage, Venancio taunted Camacho, calling him a “stupid driver,” said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Dave Weiner.

According to Weiner, Camacho then stabbed Venancio 18 times with an ink pen in the face, stomach and head and dragged him to a nearby pond where he strangled and drowned him. A Cook County medical examiner listed the cause of death as drowning with strangulation and stabbing as contributing factors. The medical examiner also recovered a pen tip from the victim’s nasal cavity, Weiner said.

Leaving behind various vehicle documents, including an insurance card, Camacho left the scene and reported the car stolen, Weiner said. Police later found the car abandoned with severe front end damage and traced the vehicle to Camacho, who fled to Mexico, Weiner said.

Comacho, who has no criminal background, could face between 20 and 60 years in prison if he is convicted.

He next appears in court on March 1.

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