Geneva Man Accused of Killing Girlfriend and Her Son Denied Pretrial Release
A Geneva man charged in the brutal slayings of his girlfriend and her 13-year-old son was ordered to remain in custody without pretrial release, a Kane County judge ruled on Jan. 14.
Alejandro Cota, 50, faces four counts of first-degree murder in connection to the Dec. 26 deaths of Christina L. Chavira, 47, and her son, Damien. Judge Julia Yetter granted the state’s motion for Cota’s detention, citing the severity of the charges and the need to ensure public safety.
“The court’s decision to detain the defendant pretrial reflects the serious nature of these charges and the need to ensure public safety as we proceed with this case,” said Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser in a statement. “This case involves a devastating act of violence that took the lives of a mother and her young son, leaving an indelible mark on their loved ones and our community. We are committed to seeking justice for the victims and holding the accused accountable for these horrific crimes.”
Geneva police responded to a residence in the 2700 block of Emma’s Way on the evening of Dec. 26 after receiving a 911 call reporting a fatal domestic violence incident. Officers forced entry into the home after receiving no response at the door and discovered Chavira and her son unresponsive and suffering from stab wounds.
Chavira was treated by medics at the scene and later transported to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her son was airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries.
The Kane County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Chavira, confirming that her death was consistent with multiple stab wounds. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the boy’s death to be a homicide caused by 37 stab wounds, some of which penetrated his skull and severed his spinal cord.
Police found Cota on the roof of the residence with $5,000 in cash at the time of the incident. Officials revealed that Cota has a criminal history, including a prior deportation and charges of domestic battery.
Cota’s next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 27.
