‘Every Kind Word, Every Kind Thought, Fills The Heartbreak': Family Of Slain Mom

WORTH, IL — The family of a 31-year-old woman who was shot during a robbery gone bad in Worth over the weekend is left shattered by her senseless death.

Jonnie Angel Klein was going about her day, using the ATM at Chase Bank at 6838 W. 111th St. around 3 p.m. Saturday when another car pulled into the drive-thru in what police have called an attempted robbery. One of the suspects got out and ended up shooting Klein in the chest, Worth police told the family.

“Angel is her middle name, and now she’s an angel,” said Bridgette McClain, who is married to Klein’s brother, Derek.

>>> Pair Accused In Slaying Of 31-Year-Old Mom At ATM Ordered Detained

Worth police took two people, both from Harvey, into custody on Sunday. McClain said they were told by police that the suspects are male and female. The attempted robbery and shooting were captured on the Chase Bank’s security cameras.

After she was shot, Worth police said the gravely injured Klein drove across 111th Street to another bank branch, where she was found. Officers responded within 78 seconds of receiving the 911 call of a person in need of assistance. But by the time officers arrived, Klein had already died.

Klein was a single mom of a 15-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, who are now trying to process their mother’s loss while running a routine errand. The young mom, who would have turned 32 next month, was also taking care of her mother.

>>> In Memory Of Jonnie Angel Klein: GoFundMe

“She was taking care of her mother, nursing her through cancer,” McClain said.

Formerly of unincorporated Worth, Klein and her children has recently moved to Blue Island. She was a popular counter worker at Dunkin’ Donut near 111th Street and Kedzie. A cousin of Klein’s mother who was more like an aunt to Klein and her brother, has set up a GoFundMe to help the family pay for Klein’s funeral.

“Through her positive presence and servant attitude she shone God's light into so many people's lives without even knowing it,” the organizer, Jacquelyn Valasek wrote on GoFundMe. “Although He called her home earlier than we can understand, she was able to touch so many lives and her love will live on in our hearts and through her children. Rest in Peace.”

Donations have been pouring, with over $62,000 raised. Funeral services were held Saturday at Thompson-Kuenster in Oak Lawn.

“Every kind word, every kind thought, it helps fill that little bit of heartbreak,” a tearful McClain told Patch. “Justice helps, the fact that they caught them.”

The suspectshave been tied to several other crimes in the Chicago area and northwest Indiana, said Chief Timothy Denton, of the Worth Police Department. The Cook County State’s Attorney is reviewing charges. Other area police departments are also interested in talking to the pair about unsolved cases in their towns.

Jonnie Angel Klein on her last birthday in December 2022 \ Klein Family Photo

This story has been updated with new information.