By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
While the investigation into the murder of Tywon Anderson continued this week, the main suspect in that case was still in an Illinois county jail as of Wednesday morning.
After two weeks of pursuit by several law enforcement agencies, Andrew Obregon, 32, of Brighton, was captured Oct. 13 in Winthrop Harbor, and processed through Lake County Circuit Court on Thursday. He is currently being held without bail on charges of using a stolen vehicle, aggressively fleeing police, driving on a suspended license and various traffic offenses he committed while fleeing police last week.
An extradition status hearing to Wisconsin – where he has yet to be charged with any crimes stemming both from the police manhunt and for the murder of Anderson – is scheduled for Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said that a “multitude” of charges were pending, including armed robbery, assault of the woman who came upon Obregon in an empty home, and numerous evading police charges.
“He has just a host of felony charges between both states,” Schmaling said. “There’s a lot of people waiting to drop a lot of charges on him.”
Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said it took about 24 hours just to pull his department back into focus after the extended manhunt.
“It took a few days to get back to business as usual,” Beth said. “We’re still tying up.”
Beth confirmed the woman who had been beaten when Obregon stole her Chevy Spark had been released from the hospital. He said Tuesday that the woman has requested – and has her attorney – that her name not be released to the media.
Beth also said the woman is in line for the $5,000 reward that had been announced last week.
“We’re processing that now,” Beth said.
Kenosha Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Dan Ruth gave a brief update Monday, saying that Obregon was “THE person” of interest in connection to the Anderson murder.
Ruth also verified two other bits of information that had gotten into various media reports last week – the use of On-Star satellite service to shut the stolen vehicle down at a specific place and time, and Obregon’s wounds included dog bites.
Beth said Tuesday the initial report of Obregon having a bullet wound in addition was accurate.
Ruth added that the department hasn’t ruled out involvement by others, and that charges in the state of Wisconsin are “weeks away at the soonest.”
“Much, much more to be done in building this case,” Ruth said. “Believe me.”
Beth added that there is no need to do anything but be methodical in putting the case together.
“Right now, we don’t have to rush it, because we don’t have to,” Beth said. “We’re going to see what charges are appropriate, and I’m sure there’s going to be a large number of them.”
A desperate man
Schmaling, who was getting ready to make his budget address to the Racine County Board Oct. 13, was notified of Obregon’s capture by a brief text from Beth.
“Got ‘im.”
“That’s done and behind us now, which is a good thing,” Schmaling said. “Naturally, I’m very pleased he’s in custody.”
Now, both the Kenosha and Racine sheriff’s departments are decompressing and preparing for what will likely be a lengthy court process with Obregon.
Schmaling stressed that the strong working relationship between Beth and himself was a factor in apprehending Obregon.
“We’ve always had that level of working relationship,” Schmaling said. “I immediately offered any resources and all resources I had.
“Sheriff Beth and I literally worked shoulder to shoulder,” Schmaling added.
Schmaling said he and Beth were working out of Beth’s farm discussing strategies to apprehend Obregon, which led to the idea of the public meeting in Kansasville the day before Obregon was caught.
“Everyone wanted to see this individual caught,” said Schmaling, adding that Obregon had earned “Public Enemy No. 1” status.
Schmaling said that both he and Beth stressed capitalizing on Obregon’s mistakes.
“There always will be mistakes,” said Schmaling. “He was a career criminal. Most criminals have something to lose.
“He made it abundantly clear he had nothing,” he added. “That’s a scary individual.”
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