Itzel Camarena was 24 and six months pregnant when her body was found in an alley in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood on February 18, 2024. Her body was discovered around 9 a.m. in the 8200 block of South Vernon Avenue, between two trash cans. The Cook County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the face.

Family members said Camarena had been excited about motherhood and planned to start a cosmetics business; she was waiting to learn the baby’s gender and had chosen the name Itzayana if it was a girl. Prosecutors charged 26-year-old Dontrell Anderson with first-degree murder and concealing a homicidal death after he was arrested in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and extradited to Chicago. Surveillance video shown in court was described as depicting Anderson dragging Camarena’s body, wrapped in a sheet, from his apartment to the alley. Anderson and Camarena had attended high school together; no motive has been reported.

If anyone knew Itzel, her plans, or saw activity in the 8200 block of South Vernon Avenue on February 18, contact authorities with information.