Pretrial release denied for man accused of murdering girlfriend

A judge denied pretrial release Friday for a man accused of murdering his girlfriend Wednesday in Villa Park.

DuPage County Judge Joshua Dieden ruled Anthony Jimenez, 26, demonstrated an inability to control himself and that there were no conditions of release that could adequately mitigate the threat of danger.

“He has demonstrated that he is willing to commit crimes even where he resides,” Dieden wrote in his order.

Jimenez is accused of killing 24-year-old Jessica Reyes.

The two had argued in Jimenez’s apartment in the 1600 block of South Michigan Avenue, with Jimenez accusing her of infidelity, according to court records. He blocked a door to keep her from leaving, so she climbed out the window of the third-story apartment and went to her car.

Jimenez followed her to the car and briefly blocked her from getting out, according to court records. Reyes then returned to the apartment to retrieve belongings, including her phone.

The two began talking again. As Reyes went into a closet for her items and told Jimenez she thought they should take a three-month break in their relationship, Jimenez pulled a switchblade knife out of his pocket and began stabbing her in the head, according to court records.

His mother and a man heard Reyes’ screams and entered the bedroom. The man grabbed Reyes and took him out of the room.

Reyes was pronounced dead at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

“Domestic violence has no place in our society,” Villa Park Police Chief Michael Rivas said in a news release. “The alleged actions of the accused are horrific. When the facts of the case are revealed, there is no doubt the accused should face the full force of our justice system.”

Jimenez’s next court date is Aug. 12.