Chicago man accused of fatally strangling pregnant woman and dumping her body on roadside

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. (TCD) — A 37-year-old Chicago man allegedly fatally strangled a pregnant 39-year-old woman during an argument, left her body in his car for days, and then dumped her remains on the side of a road in Lake County last month.

According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, on Nov. 29 at around 7 a.m., deputies responded to the area of Hunt Club Road south of Route 173 in reference to possible human remains on the side of the road. Once there, deputies found a woman’s body and determined she had died of homicidal violence and was dumped there in the early morning hours.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy and concluded the victim, Megan Lewis, was 16 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

Detectives allege Juan Vega-Montoya killed Lewis. According to the sheriff’s office, investigators reviewed surveillance video and learned Vega-Montoya allegedly picked up Lewis on Nov. 26 near Cicero and West Belden avenues in Chicago. They reportedly began arguing in the car, and Vega-Montoya fatally strangled Lewis.

The sheriff’s office said investigators believe Vega-Montoya drove home after Lewis’ death and kept her body in his car for around two days. He allegedly dumped her body on the side of Hunt Club Road late on the night of Nov. 28.

According to the sheriff’s office, detectives performed a traffic stop on Vega-Montoya on Monday, Dec. 11, and took him into custody. They recovered further evidence inside Vega-Montoya’s car.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved a charge of concealing a homicidal death. Because Lewis’ strangling death occurred in Chicago, the sheriff’s office said they sent over the investigative information to the Chicago Police Department, but they anticipate murder charges will be filed.

Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said in a statement, “It is simply unconscionable to kill someone then dump their body on the side of a roadway in a humiliating fashion.”

Vega-Montoya remains held in the Lake County Jail. 

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