Elpidia Munoz-Garcia, 33, was shot and killed on January 2, 2015, at Bueno’s Bar in Waukegan, Illinois, an establishment she co-owned. She was found with a gunshot wound to the face and was pronounced dead shortly after the shooting, which occurred around 1:10 a.m. Munoz-Garcia was a mother of two; friends and family held a vigil after her death.

The suspect was identified as Roberto C. Romero, 23, who was in a relationship with Munoz-Garcia. Witnesses gave a description of Romero’s vehicle that led to his arrest after a brief police chase; a gun was recovered at the scene. Romero admitted to the shooting during police questioning. The trial record notes the killing was witnessed by Munoz-Garcia’s 9-year-old daughter and was captured on videotape. Romero’s defense said he was mentally ill at the time.

Romero ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree murder under a negotiated deal and was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 2019, with credit for time served. Did anyone in the community know Munoz-Garcia well enough to share details about her life or the nights leading up to January 2, 2015?