A spring break sleepover turned into sheer horror for three teenage girls who were among the random victims of an alleged spree killer in Rockford, Illinois, a county prosecutor said. Christian Soto stands accused of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. One of the victims, Jenna Newcomb, 15, died trying to save her sister and her friend, according to Rockford's mayor.
Officials disclosed the details at a news conference Thursday outlining the case against Soto. Jenna's friend, who was only identified by her initials, had spent the night, and the girls were watching a movie in the basement on Wednesday afternoon, Winnebago County Prosecutor J. Hanley said. Jenna's sister was in the kitchen fixing something to eat around p.
Soto followed, cornered them in the room, and began hitting the girls with the bat, Hanley said. Jenna collapsed and lost consciousness.
At one point, Jenna's friend was lying in a fetal position as Soto struck her on her left side. That's when Jenna's friend called the police and then ran outside to find officers already nearby responding to Soto's ongoing rampage.
Soto told detectives that he entered the home through the open garage and back door, found a bat in the kitchen, and went to the basement to attack the girls, Hanley said. Jenna's sister and friend suffered lacerations and bruises, and the sister also was being treated for an arm fracture. John is a veteran Chicago journalist with experience in print, television and online platforms and has been with the CBS Chicago team since Suspect charged in Rockford, Illinois rampage that left 4 dead, 7 injured.
