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Suspect Waives Extradition but Remains in Indiana in Killing of Illinois Bar Owner

An Indiana judge kept Julius E. Burkes Jr. in state custody because of an unresolved case, delaying his transfer to Kankakee County for charges.

Overview

  • Courtney Drysdale, 30, was fatally shot inside The Line in rural Momence while opening for the day during a robbery, and the sheriff says she complied before being shot twice execution-style.
  • Burkes, 47, was arrested in Hammond roughly 26 hours after authorities released surveillance images of a person and a white BMW and announced a $5,000 CrimeStoppers reward.
  • Investigators say the shooter tried to remove a recording device, yet recovered video evidence helped identify the suspect.
  • He waived extradition in Lake County court but will remain jailed in Crown Point until a pending Indiana residential entry case is resolved, with a next court date on Feb. 26.
  • The sheriff credited a surge of public tips and coordination with the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force, FBI, U.S. Marshals and Hammond police for the swift arrest.