(Lake County, IL) Today, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against two men in connection to the September 2022 death of a man on the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve.  

Jacob Firestone, 19, and Nicholas Caban, 20, are each being charged with one count of Second-Degree murder, and both were arrested this evening, after warrants were issued. 

After both defendants were in custody, State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart stated, “I want to thank all our law enforcement partners for their joint efforts in this case. The Lake County Major Crimes Task Force and Forest Preserve Police Department conducted an excellent investigation. We greatly appreciate the assistance of Deerfield Police and the Kane County Sheriff’s Department in apprehending the offenders only hours after our office filed the charges. Significantly, Coroner Jennifer Banek’s team has played a crucial role in analyzing the crime scene. We have kept the family apprised at all times regarding the course of the investigation, and we will continue to support them after this brutal attack took their husband, brother, father, son, and friend.” 

On September 17, 2022, Highland Park Police responded to a report of an unconscious person on Lake Michigan’s shoreline. When officers arrived, they located the deceased person later identified by the Lake County Coroner’s Office as Matthew Ascaridis, 45.  

Preliminary investigation led by the Lake County Forest Preserve Police and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force showed Ascaridis had a violent confrontation with Firestone and Caban that resulted in his death on a beach near his home.  

During the ensuing investigation, officers found a semiautomatic weapon in Caban’s bedroom that belonged to him and was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm on September 18.   

Related to the original incident, Firestone was initially charged with two counts of obstructing justice after investigators determined that Firestone was responsible for attempting to conceal evidence after the fatal incident had occurred.  

Both defendants posted thousands of dollars since their September 2022 arrests.  

On the murder charges, defendants are expected to appear in court on March 17, 2023, to have a new cash bond set.