Murder suspects, from left, Scotty Jobe-Scott, Keith Bassett and Latoya Laramore-Milons allegedly beat and stabbed a 29-year-old woman to death and set her body on fire in Riverdale, a suburb of Chicago. All three are facing murder charges. (Riverdale Police Department)
Police allege three people in a Chicago suburb beat and stabbed a woman to death while playing the Kodak Black song “Killing the Rats” to drown out her screams for help and then set her body on fire.
Prosecutors on Wednesday charged Scotty Jobe-Scott, 30, Keith Bassett, 55, and Latoya Laramore-Milons, 39, with first-degree murder, according to the Riverdale Police Department.
The Riverdale Police Department responded around 3:20 a.m. on Dec. 9 to a structure fire and found the victim’s body in flames. Since the victim was burned beyond recognition, police released photos of her ornate wristwatch and described the tattoo on her upper right arm of praying hands wrapped with a rosary with the word “faith” underneath.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the victim as 29-year-old Danielle Banks.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by CBS affiliate WBBM, the suspects stabbed Banks and beat her until her eye fell out of her socket, all while playing the “Killing the Rats” song as she cried out in pain. They then allegedly burned the body so it would not be identifiable.
Prosecutors also reportedly say Laramore-Milons researched “murder and burned body” before killing Banks. The motive, prosecutors allege, was that Banks owed the suspects money.
Banks’ father Ray Banks told WBBM it was all over $65. He said the arrests bring some closure.
“Her murderers? We know they are in custody. That right there was a real, really privilege to us,” he said. “Danielle, she was a lively, spiffy, lovely young lady. She loved to sing. She loved to dance.”
Ray Banks said her daughter became caught up in drugs. He has been helping people overcome addictions for over 30 years following an addiction of his own. He hopes speaking out can help others.
“If you’re involved with drugs? There’s places that can help you. There’s rehab centers that will take you in for free,” he told WBBM.
The suspects’ next court date is scheduled for Jan. 3. All three are being held at the Cook County Jail without bond.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
