Villa Park Man Sentenced to Fifty-Five Years for Murder of His Girlfriend
Anthony Jimenez, 28 (d.o.b. 2/27/1998) formerly of the 1600 block of S. Michigan Avenue, appeared at his sentencing hearing yesterday afternoon in front of Judge Mia McPherson, who handed down the sentence.
“OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR OF THEIR HUSBAND, WIFE, SIGNIFICANT OTHER, OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS,” BERLIN SAID. “THIS TRAGIC CASE IS A STARK REMINDER THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MUST NEVER BE TOLERATED OR EXCUSED, AS DOING SO COULD RESULT IN DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.”
VILLA PARK - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that a Villa Park man has been sentenced to fifty-five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for the murder of his girlfriend, twenty-four-year-old Jessica Reyes, following a domestic altercation at his apartment. Anthony Jimenez, 28 (d.o.b. 2/27/1998) formerly of the 1600 block of S. Michigan Avenue, appeared at his sentencing hearing yesterday afternoon in front of Judge Mia McPherson, who handed down the sentence. On May 8, 2026, Jimenez voluntarily entered a plea of guilty to one count of First Degree Murder. On July 19, 2024, Jimenez appeared in First Appearance Court where Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to detain him pre-trial. He has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time.
On July 17, 2024, at approximately 10:50 a.m., Villa Park police officers responded to a call of a domestic disturbance at an apartment in the 1600 block of S. Michigan Avenue. During the call, a male, later identified as Jimenez, told the dispatcher “I stabbed my girlfriend in the neck.” Upon their arrival, officers were met at the door by Jimenez with blood on his hands and chest. Jimenez was handcuffed and taken into custody at this time. When searching the apartment, officers located Jessica Reyes in a back bedroom, bleeding on the floor. Officers immediately administered aid to Jessica until paramedics arrived and transported her to a local hospital. She was pronounced deceased at the hospital at approximately 11:26 a.m. Following an investigation into the murder, authorities learned that Jimenez and Reyes were at the apartment together and got into a verbal altercation at approximately 8 a.m. After a short time, Jessica left the apartment by climbing down the third-floor balcony to the parking lot, as Jimenez would not let her leave the apartment and was blocking the door. Jimenez then went to the parking lot and spoke with Reyes, and after the argument had calmed down, Reyes and Jimenez went back to the apartment together to allow Reyes to collect her belongings. Once back in the apartment, the argument ensued and as Reyes began collecting her belongings, Jimenez pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed Jessica in the side of her head. As Reyes fought back, Jimenez continued to stab her multiple times about her neck, face, arms, chest and hands and only stopped stabbing Reyes when his mother entered the room.
“October is domestic violence awareness month, and I think it is important that we remember that no one should have to live in fear of their husband, wife, significant other, or other family members,” Berlin said. “This tragic case is a stark reminder that domestic violence must never be tolerated or excused, as doing so could result in deadly consequences. To Jessica’s surviving family and friends, I offer my sincere condolences on their loss and wish them strength as they continue their lives with just the memories of Jessica to see them through. No relationship should end in violence and as a society, we must all stand together and do what we can to prevent tragedies such as we saw in this case, from ever happening again. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Fisher, Casey Hennessy and Grace Barsanti for their efforts in holding Mr. Jimenez responsible for the murder of Jessica Reyes.”
Jimenez will be required to serve 100% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
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