Timothy Vallianatos, a 56-year-old man from Chicago of Greek descent, was found dead in his South Loop apartment on January 4, 2022. Neighbors reported hearing a disturbance around 9:15 p.m.; police entered his unlocked unit and found Vallianatos with a gunshot wound to the face and blunt force trauma throughout his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators tied the killing to a drug transaction involving 28-year-old Chrystal Martin and 35-year-old Elbert Williams III. Surveillance showed Martin and Williams entering the building shortly before the violence. Witnesses described a physical altercation, a woman screaming about money while Vallianatos pleaded that he had credit cards, and one witness heard the woman say put him to sleep followed by choking sounds.

Martin and Williams were arrested within two weeks of the slaying. After initial declination by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office citing self-defense claims, further investigation and witness testimony led to both being charged with first-degree murder; Martin was held on $300,000 bond. The prosecution says surveillance and witness accounts contradict the defendants’ self-defense claims. Anyone with information about Vallianatos, his movements that evening, or the transaction is asked to come forward.