Chevron"NIKA" Alexander
A former North Chicago police officer [Devin Bickham] hired a man to kill his girlfriend [Chevron Alexander] for $400, including $200 up front, prosecutors alleged... Alexander, 29, was an aspiring police officer... Alexander graduated college last year and was looking for a job in law enforcement like her two brothers... Bickham was a former North Chicago police officer... Alexander had a daughter and also had custody of a young male relative... Trey Wilson, a cousin of Alexander, called her a kind-hearted person. “Everyone liked her”... "She thought that they were going to get married." [Chevron's friend Andrea] Winters said she never met Bickham, but knew that he was the jealous type. "That's why she stopped hanging out with us so much, because he began to display his jealous traits"... Prosecutors said the senior Bickham wanted Alexander dead because she was pressing him to marry her and he wanted her out of his life... “Apparently, he decided she was in the way,” River Forest Deputy Chief Craig Rutz said...
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHEVRON "NIKA" ALEXANDER:
Sunday, July 17, 2011 at True Church House Of Prayer 6710 S. May. Services will start at 2:30pm.
Facebook Group:
EXCERPTS FROM NEWS ARTICLES:
WOMAN SHOT, KILLED NEAR DOMINICAN U.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
John Garcia
July 12, 2011
[Excerpts] The body of a young woman was discovered in a west suburban parking lot near Dominican University. Chervon Alexander was found shot to death late Monday night. Two men are being questioned by River Forest police in connection with the killing. Charges have not yet been filed... Friends say Alexander was planning on getting married soon to a man she had known for several months. She left home Monday night, apparently on her way to get a bite to eat. Police were called a while later to a parking lot in River Forest where she had been shot. Police say the victim was in her car, in the driver's seat, sitting in a parking lot near Dominican University when someone approached and fired several shots through the driver's side window. Paramedics rushed Alexander to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her minister, Vincent Hinton, went to the hospital with her family. "She just didn't deserve what happened to her. She was a wonderful person," said Hinton. "She'd take the kids to school and go to church... never had a fight, an argument, nothing," said Derrick Williams, a friend of Alexander's. Friends and neighbors say Alexander was a woman with strong faith who doted on her two children. Alexander graduated college last year and was looking for a job in law enforcement like her two brothers... Police say the gunman fled the parking lot moments after the shooting, but thanks to a witness description, police stopped the car about a mile away... [Full article here]
POLICE: EX-COP ORDERED HIT ON GIRLFRIEND
UPI.com
July 15, 2011
[Excerpts] Cook County Judge William Weiss has ordered a former North Chicago police officer, his son and another man held in the death of the ex-officer's girlfriend. Weiss Friday ordered Devin A. Bickham, 39, his son, also named Devin Bickham, 20, both of Blue Island, and Cardell Taylor, 35, of Chicago held without bail in the death of Bickham's girlfriend, Chevron Alexander, The Chicago Sun-Times reported. Assistant State's Attorney Maureen O'Brien said the elder Bickham, through his son, hired Taylor to kill Alexander. Investigators said she had been pressuring him to divorce his wife so they could marry. Prosecutors said Bickham was to pay Taylor $400 for killing Alexander, 29. and the younger Bickham and Taylor allegedly confessed... [Full article here]
PROSECUTORS: BLUE ISLAND MAN HIRED HIT MAN FOR KILLING
Chicago Sun-Times
BY Bill Dwyer
July 15, 2011
[Excerpts] A former North Chicago police officer hired a man to kill his girlfriend for $400, including $200 up front, prosecutors alleged Friday during a court hearing for the three men charged with killing the woman. Cook County Circuit Judge William Weiss ordered Devin A. Bickham, 39, of Blue Island, his 20-year-old son who’s also named Devin Bickham and Cardell Taylor, 35, held without bail. Assistant State’s Attorney Maureen O’Brien said Bickham worked through his son, with whom he lived, to hire Taylor to kill 29-year-old Chervon Alexander, of Chicago. When police stopped Bickham’s son and Taylor shortly after the Monday night shooting, Taylor said, “I want the rest of the money now,” O’Brien said. The two men have confessed to the plot to kill Alexander, authorities said. Bickham, who’s married, was having an affair with Alexander, who thought they would be married in August, O’Brien said. Authorities said Bickham, who has five children, wanted Alexander dead because she was pressuring him to marry her... Bickham drove Alexander to a parking lot near Division Street and Harlem Avenue in River Forest about 10 p.m. Monday, telling her it was so they could talk. Then he texted his son, who handed Taylor his father’s .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol and drove to where Alexander and his father were in their car, authorities said. Taylor got out, walked to the passenger side of the car and began shooting... Outside the courtroom Friday, more than 30 people, some relatives of Alexander, stood waiting. One young girl cried on an older woman’s shoulder. Alexander’s cousin, Trey Wilson, called her a kindhearted person. “Everyone liked her,” he said. [Full article here]
DETAILS SURFACE IN RIVER FOREST MURDER CASE: Slaying was a case of murder for $200 now, $200 later, prosecutor says
The Chicago Tribune
By Art Barnum
July 16, 2011
[Excerpts] ...Devin Bickham Sr. paid Cardell Taylor half the money before Taylor fatally shot Bickham's girlfriend Monday night in a River Forest parking lot, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Maureen O'Brien. When police pulled over Taylor and Bickham's son in a car shortly after the shooting, they overheard Taylor talking about what he was still owned, she said. O'Brien said officers heard Taylor say, "I want the rest of my money now." Cook County Judge William Wise ordered Taylor, 35, of Chicago, Devin Bickham Sr., 39, and his son, Devin Jr. 20, both of Blue Island, held without bond in Alexander's killing. They all are charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors said the senior Bickham wanted Alexander dead because she was pressing him to marry her and he wanted her out of his life. Alexander, 29, was an aspiring police officer. Bickham was a former North Chicago police officer. Investigators said that late Monday night Bickham, who was already married, drove Alexander to a parking lot darkened by a power outage. They had been there before... When they arrived at the lot near Dominican University, Bickham sent a text message to his alleged accomplices, who were parked about a block away... Bickham called police and pretended to be a witness, the prosecutor said. In a recording of his call to 911, Bickham can be heard wailing wildly as he tells the dispatcher that his girlfriend has been shot. Meanwhile, his son and Taylor fled but were pulled over about three minutes later a little more than a mile away at Harlem Avenue near Madison Street... Bickham's son told police that someone had tossed the gun into the car, she said... [Full article here]
POLICE: MAN CHARGED IN WOMAN'S MURDER CALLED 911
abclocal.go.com
Eric Horng
July 16, 2011 (
[Excerpts] A 911 call from the moments after a woman was shot to death in River Forest came from a man now charged in her murder. On the call, Devin Bickham, Sr. sounds distraught, to the point that the operator has a hard time understanding him because of his crying. However, prosecutors say that his are the sobs of a killer trying to cover his tracks... In the recording, Bickham, Sr., can be heard telling an officer that his girlfriend had been shot by "some guy", and that the driver had kept going afterward.... Prosecutors say both men have implicated Bickham, Sr., who is a former North Chicago police officer, though his attorney maintains his innocence... Alexander, 29, had been telling people that she and Bickham, Sr. were engaged... [Full article here]
FRIEND DOUBTS SHOOTING VICTIM KNEW HER BOYFRIEND WAS MARRIED
Wednesday Journal
By Megan Dooley
Friday, July 15th, 2011
[Excerpts] Andrea Winters' friendship with Chervon Alexander began back in 2006, when they met in a criminal justice degree program. According to Winters, they maintained a close relationship, often getting together for dinner or a night out at a club. "She was extremely outgoing," Winters said, of the friend she remembered for her love of children and great sense of humor. Winters said Alexander had a daughter and also had custody of a young male relative. She doted on both children. Winters said that Alexander did talk occasionally about her relationship with Devin Bickham, known only to her friend as "D." She said that to her knowledge, the relationship began back in September or October of last year. "She seemed very happy with him," Winters said. "She thought that they were going to get married." Winters said she never met Bickham, but knew that he was the jealous type. "That's why she stopped hanging out with us so much, because he began to display his jealous traits," she said. "When she did hang out with us, if he called, she had to leave." Alexander also deleted her Facebook account, because of her boyfriend's jealousy. However, Alexander's Myspace Web page still exists. Sporting a pink background covered with hearts, Alexander's profile lists her marital status as "engaged." Winters said she had no idea Bickham was married to another woman, and doubted that Alexander knew either. "He had to be, at the very least, leading her on. ... If she knew [that he was married] from the beginning, I don't think she would have stayed in that relationship," Winters said... Alexander had been looking into a career as a police officer or probation officer before her death, and hoped to someday work with kids as well. She said she was shocked to hear the news of her friend's murder. "She was one of the best fiends that anyone could ask for," Winters said. [Full article here]
NO BOND FOR 3 CHARGED IN MURDER OF EX-COP'S GIRLFRIEND
myfoxchicago.com
Friday, 15 Jul 2011
[Excerpts] A former North Chicago police officer offered to pay a man $400 — including $200 upfront — to kill his girlfriend, prosecutors alleged Friday during a court hearing for the three men charged with killing the woman this week in River Forest . Cook County Judge William Weiss ordered Devin A. Bickham, 39, his 20-year-old son also named Devin Bickham, and Cardell Taylor, 35, held without bond... Authorities said the older Bickham, who has five children, wanted Alexander dead because she was pressuring him to leave his estranged wife and marry her instead. “Apparently, he decided she was in the way,” River Forest Deputy Chief Craig Rutz said. “He wanted her out of his life.” O’Brien said Bickham’s wife did not know he had been dating Alexander. Trey Wilson, a cousin of Alexander, called her a kind-hearted person. “Everyone liked her,” he said... The older Devin Bickham is a former North Chicago police officer and co-founder of the Chi-City Blitz, a semi-pro football team that plays in the Great Midwest Football League on the South Side... [Full article here]
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety lethal fatality fatalities murder illinois state politics]
Nika you will be truly missed, love you girl. Seeing her for the last time on sunday really hurts but i know she is in a better place. Its just sad that these stupid fools took her life away and it wasnt her time. She was such a very sweet person, being around her u always was laughing. *RIP BOO*
ReplyDeleteGod, I cant explain how I miss you!!! All of the Family functions, the laughter, the pepsi's lol!!! It just wont be the same without. I have cried so much, man... I cant even cry anymore. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH SIS!!!!!! I'll see you in heaven one day!!!!
ReplyDeleteim really going to miss you all though we did'nt see each other much. you were still my aunt n law. ha i remember you said you would cut my stuff off if i hurt your lil sis n when you all almost jumped me. im sorry i didnt come to your funeral i couldnt see you like that after they told me what happened i was more so in shock than sad because you were a wonderful person and ill never forget you hopefully see you later.
ReplyDelete-Robert
It is not words that can explain how I feel about this all I can say that u are truly miss and justice will prevail. I will always remember your beautiful smile. I remember how we be in church and you just be glowing. I know u are in a better place r.i.p u will never be forgotton.
ReplyDeleteOfficers praised for River Forest murder investigation
ReplyDeleteOakPark.com
By Megan Dooley
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
Six police officers from River Forest and other nearby police departments received departmental commendations by the River Forest Police Department at an Aug. 15 village board meeting, for their service during the investigation of a Chicago woman's murder in the village in July.
River Forest Officer Anthony Pluto was the first at the scene of Chervon Alexander's murder on the night of July 11. Forest Park Officer Daniel Miller and Forest Park Sgt. Kenneth Gross conducted the traffic stop that led to the apprehension of two of the murder suspects. River Forest Det. Sgt. Martin Grill was head of the murder investigation, River Forest Det. Seth DeYoung interviewed the suspects and got their confessions, and River Forest Officer Justin Labriola acted as evidence technician in the case.
"The work that was done between these multiple jurisdictions was phenomenal," said Village President John Rigas. "When you can solve that type of crime in four minutes, I think it goes to show the excellence of all involved. ... I want to thank everyone for the work you did."
http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/08-23-2011/Officers_praised_for_River_Forest_murder_investigation
That was my aunt... :( RIP.
ReplyDeleteTHIS WAS MY VERY BEST CHILDHOOD FRIEND FROM ACROSS THE STREET. I LOVE YOU BOO AND EVEN THOUGH I COULD NOT MAKE IT ALL THE WAY FROM GEORGIA TO SHARE WITH YOU YOUR LAST EARTHLY APPEARANCE. I WAS WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN PRAYER. I HATE THIS HAPPENED TO SUCH A LOVING AND CARING PERSON. YOU WERE A GREAT FRIEND AND YOU ARE TRULY MISSED.
ReplyDeleteI know the killer and watch the show and love her miss you
ReplyDelete