Convicted Joliet Killer Questioned In Last Week's Homicide

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet senior citizen who was convicted of murder 30 years ago is now in the Will County Jail facing several felony charges stemming from last week's shooting death of 56-year-old Sonja Underwood.

At this point, however, the Will County State's Attorney's Office has not charged Ben Rockett with the homicide of Underwood.

"On March 31, 2021, Rockett was transported to the Joliet Police Department by Joliet Police Detectives for questioning in regard to the homicide that occurred in the 200 block of Illinois," Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English told Patch this week.

"On April 1, 2021, the Will County State’s Attorney Office approved charges and a Will County Judge issued an arrest warrant. Investigation into this incident is still active, and the Will County State’s Attorney is reviewing the case for further possible charges. No further information will be released at this time," Joliet police announced.

On March 31, Joliet officers were called to a home in the 200 block of Illinois Street in the city's St. Pat's neighborhood at 6:44 a.m. after someone reported a woman had been shot in the home. The gunshot victim was later identified as Underwood.

Will County Jail records listed Rockett's address as the 200 block of Illinois Street.

On April 1, Rockett was booked into custody on one charge of being an armed habitual criminal and two charges of unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. On March 31, Rockett possessed a .38 caliber revolver even though was previously convicted of second-degree murder and burglary, his criminal complaint reflected.

Will County Judge Dave Carlson set Rockett's bail at $1 million. The convicted Joliet killer had his 69th birthday in the Will County Jail in recent days.

According to Will County prosecutors, Rockett was convicted in 1991 of second-degree murder and following his release from prison, he was convicted of burglary in 2000. Both crimes happened in Will County.

Underwood's shooting death marked the city of Joliet's first homicide since Oct. 26, 2020. That homicide was also in Joliet's St. Patrick's Neighborhood Area.