An Illinois community is grappling with the horrific killing of a young pregnant mother. Eliza Morales was at her apartment in Downers Grove, a suburb of Chicago, on January 26, 2026. Her husband reportedly sold a truck to someone on Facebook Marketplace the weekend prior and didn’t remove the license plates. The purchaser, 19-year-old Nedas Revuckas, reportedly returned to the home to switch the plates. The exchange took a dark turn, and Morales and her unborn baby wound up dead. When investigators tracked down Revuckas a short time later, he shared a shocking story.
According to court documents obtained by WGN-TV, Revuckas bought a 1994 Ford Ranger truck from Morales’ husband two days before her death through Facebook Marketplace. On January 26, Revuckas reportedly contacted Morales’ husband about the truck’s license plates. The pair arranged for him to visit the family’s apartment later that day.
Revuckas arrived at the family’s home, and surveillance video showed him and Morales talking. She handed him a tool that looked like a screwdriver. Investigators assumed the tool was to remove the license plates, WGN-TV reported. A few moments later, Revuckas returned to the apartment holding the tool behind his back. Morales let him into the apartment, and video showed the door open and close in an apparent struggle a few minutes later. That was the last time anyone saw Morales alive.
Revuckas allegedly stabbed Morales more than 70 times before leaving. Someone reportedly noticed smoke coming from the apartment and called 911. Emergency crews arrived quickly and declared Morales dead at the scene. Detectives pieced together the day’s events and traced the truck to a home in the 1400 block of Spruce Lane in Westmont, where Revuckas lived with his girlfriend, the outlet reported.
Police arrested Revuckas, who allegedly admitted to throwing away blood-stained clothes at an Ace Hardware not far from the crime scene. Detectives returned Revuckas to the store and recovered his clothes. They reportedly found his jacket covered in blood with Morales’ work lanyard and ID, and her husband’s debit card inside, , per WGN-TV. Revuckas allegedly admitted to killing Morales because he was upset about the condition of the truck.
Morales’ family created a GoFundMe account to help the husband and toddler she left behind.
“The way she cared for her daughter, the way she supported her home, the way she loved without limits… it was a blessing to witness,” a post on the fundraiser reads. “She worked hard, not for recognition, but because she believed in building a strong, loving foundation for her family. Everything she did was rooted in love. She was motivated by family, driven by loyalty, and guided by a heart that was truly selfless.”
Revuckas faces charges of murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, robbery, arson, and aggravated animal cruelty. According to Illinois law, he would be sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison if a court convicts him.
Facebook Marketplace can be an easy way to make some fast money, but these kinds of stories make us pause. Perhaps selling things to a total stranger at your home isn’t the best idea. We want to see the good in everyone, but sometimes it’s safer to think smarter.
