(Lake County, IL) Today, a Lake County judge granted a detention petition for a man who is facing first-degree murder charges. 

Seferino Calihua-Rodriguez, 35, is being charged with two counts First-Degree Murder, one count of Attempt First-Degree, and one count Solicitation of Murder for Hire.  

Two other defendants are also being charged in connection to the murder-for-hire plot. Misael Chavarin-Plazola, 26, and Rosalio Diaz-Zarate, 29, are each being charged with two counts of First-Degree Murder, and one count of Attempt First-Degree Murder.  

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed detention petitions on Chavarin-Plazola and Diaz-Zarate. Both will have detention hearings on September 28, 2023, at 1:30, in courtroom T-121. 

“The Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, the North Chicago Police Department, our Violent Crimes Unit, and our forensic team did a tremendous job to solve one of the most cold and calculated murders we have ever seen. Investigators, police, and prosecutors worked around the clock to secure justice for this victim and to prevent these offenders from escaping the jurisdiction,” said State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart. 

On September 22, 2023, North Chicago Police Officers responded to a report of shots fired on the 1000 block of Victoria Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a woman fatally shot.  

North Chicago Police and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force conducted an extensive investigation after the fatal shooting and were able to obtain search warrants for Calihua-Rodriguez and Chavarin-Plazola's phones. With the technology of the Lake County State’s Attorney Office’s Cyber Lab, investigators were able to conduct an efficient and fast search of the devices.  

“With the new software our cyber lab recently received through a grant, we were able to get actionable information to law enforcement much quicker,” J.B. Brooks, Director of the Lake County State’s Attorney Office’s Cyber Lab said.  

Detectives learned that Calihua-Rodriguez had a previous relationship with the victim and that Calihua-Rodriguez was extremely upset when the relationship ended.  

Further investigation determined that Calihua-Rodriguez decided to hire Chavarin-Plazola to kill the victim. Chavarin-Plazola followed through on the plan after being paid and shot the victim on the morning of September 22, as she was entering a car to drive to work. Chavarin-Plazola also shot at a second victim who was not injured.  

Investigators also learned that a third person, Diaz-Zarate, drove Chavarin-Plazola to the scene of the shooting and drove him away after.  

Calihua-Rodriguez next court date is scheduled for October 25, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. for a preliminary hearing.