Tragedy in Lyons Township: Community Mourns the Death of 16-Year-Old Emily Romo After Brutal Attack
The Lyons Township community is reeling after the devastating death of Emily Romo, a 16-year-old student whose life was tragically cut short following a violent home invasion that also left her mother critically injured. The incident unfolded in shocking detail last week inside their Joliet Road apartment, and prosecutors have described it as one of the most horrific acts of domestic violence the area has ever witnessed.
According to law enforcement officials, Juan Carlos Perez-Abarca, 35, climbed a ladder to gain entry to the family’s second-floor apartment just hours after a judge denied Emily’s mother an emergency protection order against him. Once inside, prosecutors allege Perez-Abarca lay in wait, ambushing the pair as they returned home. What followed was a brutal assault: Emily’s mother was stabbed repeatedly, while Emily was suffocated when a plastic bag was forced over her face during the struggle.
Responding deputies arrived to find chaos. Emily was discovered unconscious, her mother gravely wounded and bleeding on the floor. In a desperate effort to halt the assault, one officer shot Perez-Abarca in the leg before taking him into custody. Despite emergency medical intervention, Emily succumbed to her injuries three days later at the hospital. Her mother remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and continues to fight for her life.
Perez-Abarca was initially charged with attempted murder and home invasion. Following Emily’s death, prosecutors confirmed that charges will be upgraded, likely to include first-degree murder. A judge has since denied bond, condemning the case as “horrific” and emphasizing the extraordinary level of violence involved.
The tragedy has sparked widespread grief in Lyons Township High School, where Emily was remembered as a kind, bright, and compassionate student who was deeply loved by her classmates and teachers. School officials have brought in grief counselors to support students and staff as they process the devastating loss. Friends described Emily as someone who always offered a smile, a helping hand, and words of encouragement to others.
Community members have responded with an outpouring of support, holding vigils and memorials to honor Emily’s life and to show solidarity with her family. Local leaders have also raised urgent questions about the handling of protection orders and whether more could have been done to prevent the attack. Advocates for domestic violence survivors stress that Emily’s death underscores the grave risks faced by victims when court petitions are denied or delayed.
Sheriff’s officials have urged the public to remember Emily for the joy she brought into the lives of those around her rather than solely for the tragedy of her final moments. “This was a bright young life stolen far too soon,” one official said. “Our hearts are with her family, friends, and everyone who loved her.”
As the investigation continues and legal proceedings move forward, the community of Lyons Township remains united in mourning the loss of Emily Romo, a vibrant teenager whose future held limitless potential. Her story serves as both a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and a call for greater protections for vulnerable families.
Emily’s memory will endure in the hearts of her classmates, teachers, and loved ones, even as the community seeks justice in the wake of unimaginable loss.
