A Mexican illegal alien who had been released from custody after being accused of decapitating a missing Illinois woman was re-arrested by federal immigration authorities in Chicago, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, 52, of Waukegan, Illinois, was arrested Saturday afternoon at a market in Chicago by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. He remains in ICE custody.
Mendoza-Gonzalez was initially arrested in April after police discovered the body of 37-year-old Megan Bos in a container on his property.
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Bos, who was reported missing by her family on March 9, had reportedly disappeared in February.
Her remains were located in a storage container filled with bleach in Mendoza-Gonzalez’s yard in Waukegan.
Authorities charged Mendoza-Gonzalez in April with concealing a corpse, abusing a corpse, and obstruction of justice.
However, Lake County Judge Randie Bruno released him from custody following his first court appearance, despite the nature of the allegations.
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A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Fox News that Bos had been decapitated.
“It is absolutely repulsive this monster walked free on Illinois’ streets after allegedly committing such a heinous crime,” the DHS spokesperson said.
“Megan Bos and her family will have justice.”
According to DHS, Mendoza-Gonzalez kept Bos’ body in his home for approximately two days before transferring it outside to a storage container filled with bleach.
The suspect allegedly told authorities that Bos had overdosed at his residence.
Instead of contacting emergency services, he reportedly broke her phone and left the body in the basement before moving it outdoors.
The release of Mendoza-Gonzalez sparked criticism from local officials, including Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner.
Speaking to FOX 32 Chicago, Gartner questioned the state’s policies that allowed the suspect to walk free.
“I was shocked to find out literally the next day that the person that they had arrested for this had been released from prison under the SAFE-T Act less than, detained less, I think, than 48 hours,” Gartner said.
“There’s other extenuating circumstances in this case. Not only the type of crime, how long the crime was concealed, the fact that the person that was arrested for this is not a U.S. citizen, and, you know, can maybe [flee] the country.”
The SAFE-T Act, a criminal justice reform measure passed in Illinois, has been the subject of ongoing debate over its impact on pretrial detentions and law enforcement procedures.
The Illinois SAFE-T act that allowed this criminal to walk is completely and utterly repulsive.
Justice still awaits for Megan Bos, her mother Jennifer Bos and the rest of their family. https://t.co/EUnnDR2e7c
— Elle Kalisz (@Gjkalisz) July 19, 2025
Critics have pointed to cases like Mendoza-Gonzalez’s as examples of potential public safety risks.
Jennifer Bos, Megan’s mother shared her tragic story with @POTUS at the signing of the HALT Fentanyl Act:
After hearing the harrowing details, @realDonaldTrump replies, “watch what happens.”
51 days Megan was kept in a bleach filled trash can. #JusticeForMeganBos https://t.co/EUnnDR2e7c pic.twitter.com/6WoPU8jwqf
— Elle Kalisz (@Gjkalisz) July 19, 2025
Illinois Republican state Rep. Tom Weber also questioned the decision to release Mendoza-Gonzalez given the circumstances of the case.
“Someone that hid their body in a garbage can for 51 days after leaving it in the basement for two days, after not calling 911 [and] breaking a phone. Is this a non-detainable offense?” Weber asked.
“Should we not find out, wait for a toxicology report, anything?”
Following his re-arrest by ICE, Mendoza-Gonzalez now remains in federal custody while immigration authorities assess further action.
No additional state-level charges have been announced as of yet.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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