The brutal killing of 30-year-old Eliza Morales and her unborn child in Downers Grove has highlighted the extreme risks of meeting strangers for online sales at a private residence. The suspect, Nedas Revuckas, allegedly stabbed Morales 70 times and set her home on fire following a dispute over a Facebook Marketplace vehicle transaction.
DOWNERS GROVE, IL (3-minute read) — A horrific act of violence has left the Downers Grove community in shock and a young family shattered. On January 26, 2026, 30-year-old Eliza Morales, who was five months pregnant with her second child, was fatally stabbed 70 times inside her home on Ogden Avenue. The suspect, 19-year-old Nedas Revuckas of Westmont, has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, armed robbery, aggravated arson, and aggravated cruelty to animals.
The tragedy reportedly stemmed from a Facebook Marketplace listing for a 1994 Ford Ranger pickup truck. Revuckas had purchased the truck from Morales’ husband, Gabriel, the previous Saturday. On Monday, Revuckas returned to the apartment to collect the truck’s license plates and a bill of sale. According to DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, Revuckas entered the apartment and became enraged over the mechanical condition of the vehicle. He later told detectives he “blacked out” after deciding to take his frustration out on Morales, who was alone at the home with the family dog while her husband was away.
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A Scene of Unspeakable Violence
Investigators allege that during the brutal attack, Morales told Revuckas she was pregnant, a plea that went unheeded. After stabbing Morales dozens of times, primarily in the head and neck, Revuckas is accused of stabbing the family’s pit bull, Zula, and setting multiple fires in the kitchen and near the front door using household chemicals as accelerants. Morales was pronounced dead at the scene, and her unborn child did not survive.
Revuckas was apprehended at his home in Westmont the following day after police identified the truck in his driveway. Following his detention hearing, where he was ordered held without bail, Revuckas was hospitalized in critical condition due to self-inflicted injuries sustained while in custody at the DuPage County Jail. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek a natural-life sentence given the “exceptionally brutal and heinous” nature of the crime.
Safety Tip: The Eliza Morales tragedy is a somber reminder that you should never conduct Facebook Marketplace or other online transactions at your personal residence. For vehicle sales, always meet in a high-traffic, public location during daylight hours. Many local police departments now offer “Safe Exchange Zones” in their parking lots, which are monitored by 24/7 surveillance. If a buyer or seller refuses to meet at a police station or a busy public plaza, consider it a major red flag and terminate the transaction immediately.
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