'He Will Kill Me,' Frankfort Woman Wrote Days Before Her Murder: Prosecutors

CHICAGO, IL — Days before her death, a Frankfort woman warned a friend that a man she knew had choked her, and that she needed help.

"He will kill me," reads the message Kelly Jarigese sent to a friend on March 3, according to court documents.

Now six weeks after her death, that man is charged with first-degree murder, with prosecutors alleging an abusive dynamic between Jarigese, 40, who was battling addiction, and defendant Decorion Matthews, 50, a substance abuse counselor.

The two had met a year earlier, and Jarigese had reportedly been staying with Matthews at his Maywood residence in recent weeks, prosecutors said. Neighbors reported hearing arguments that had turned physical, according to court documents.

Court documents say Jarigese was found dead in Matthews' apartment on March 7, with injuries consistent with being beaten. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office ruled her cause of death multiple injuries due to assault; her death was ruled a homicide.

Matthews found Jarigese dead that morning before leaving for work, but did not call police until after 5 p.m., while he was still at work, according to court documents. Police noted "fresh" scratches on Matthews' forehead, back and arm. He was arrested the same day, but released pending further investigation.

Investigators learned police were called to Matthews' home "on numerous occasions" for prior disturbances, but none involved Jarigese, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office alleges. Matthews was never arrested on the previous calls.

Matthews was arrested again April 15, and agreed to speak with police, according to court documents. He denied any knowledge of the circumstances leading up to Jarigese's death.

Jarigese was a mother of two, Frankfort native, and Lincoln-Way East High School alum. Those in her life knew of her battle with addiction, her parents told Patch.

"Down deep, she was such a beautiful soul," said her mother Deb Jarigese. "She fought with every inch she had. She wanted to be with her kids, and she wanted to be with her family.”

Matthews appeared in court at a pre-trial detention hearing on April 17. He was ordered held, with a next court date set for May 10.