Overview
- Deparris Slaughter, 32, was arrested in Burnham and charged with first-degree murder, residential arson, dismembering a human body and concealing a homicidal death.
- The victim, 68-year-old Michael Lipford, was found in his North Lawndale home on March 7; the medical examiner ruled he died from a gunshot wound and that dismemberment and burning occurred after death.
- Prosecutors detailed phone searches about killing, dismemberment and removing fingerprints and DNA in the days before the fire.
- Investigators cited ballistic testing linking a seized firearm to a bullet recovered from Lipford, a red gas can that tested positive for gasoline and bore Slaughter’s fingerprint, and fires determined to have started in three locations including on the body.
- Records and surveillance described U-Haul and Menards transactions for a dolly and ammonia, a recent car purchase, early police stops that recovered the gas can and a gun, and a next court date set for Dec. 24.