Chuck Bretz To Defend Blue Kangaroo Murder Defendant

JOLIET, IL — The family of 17-year-old Joliet first-degree murder defendant Cristian Ortiz-Arias has retained Joliet criminal defense attorney Chuck Bretz to represent their son. Joliet police detectives took Ortiz-Arias into custody over the weekend.

The 17-year-old boy who lives on Columbia Street is charged with killing Diego Arriaga. The homicide victim was foun early Saturday morning in the back parking lot of the Blue Kangaroo Laundromat at 606 East Cass St.

Besides first-degree murder, the Will County State's Attorney's prosecutors charged Ortiz-Arias with three additional felonies.

During Wednesday's interview at his Joliet law office, Bretz told Joliet Patch he has filed a motion requiring the prosecution to preserve all evidence in the city of Joliet's latest homicide.

A hearing on Bretz's motion will take place before Will County Judge David Carlson in Courtroom 405 at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

The 17-year-old murder defendant will also be brought to the Will County Courthouse from the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center several miles away on McDonough Street.

Bretz said his new client is expected to remain housed at River Valley until his 18th birthday. When he turns 18, Ortiz-Arias will be moved to Will County's Adult Detention Facility, Bretz said.

Bretz told Patch he remains in the very early stages of preparing a criminal defense strategy for his client.

"The focus is about finding out more of the case," Bretz remarked.

Bail has been set at $3 million by Will County Judge Sarah Jones.

"I will be discussing bail at a later date," Bretz said. "The family retained me, and I have met the young man, but it was not a detailed discussion in reference to the case."

Bretz said he still does not know how Joliet police detectives linked his client to the Blue Kangaroo homicide.

"The family is adamant that he is not culpable for this death, so we intend to mount a vigorous defense," Bretz told Patch.

On Monday, Will County prosecutors filed the four charges in adult court against Ortiz-Arias. To read that Joliet Patch article, go here.