A homicide investigation into the death of a 30-year-old woman at a rural Momence bar has resulted in the arrest of a suspect in Hammond, authorities confirmed.
Deputies with the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched shortly before noon on Monday, February 2, to a bar located along Illinois Route 114 near the Illinois–Indiana state line after receiving a report of a possible deceased person. Upon arrival, deputies found Courtney M. Drysdale, 30, of Momence, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe Drysdale was the owner of the establishment, known as The Line.
Following an initial investigation, detectives classified the case as a homicide.
During a press conference Tuesday morning, Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey said the suspect entered the bar as Drysdale was preparing to open for the day. According to Downey, the suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money. Although Drysdale complied, investigators said she was shot twice in what was described as an execution-style killing.
Authorities said the suspect attempted to remove a video recording device from the bar, but investigators were still able to recover video evidence. The suspect then fled the scene in a white BMW sedan, traveling toward Indiana.
Later Tuesday afternoon, law enforcement activity was reported in the 6400 block of Rhode Island Avenue in Hammond, where a person of interest was taken into custody around 1 p.m.
Approximately 26 hours after the homicide, authorities announced the arrest of the suspect. He was identified as Julius E. Burkes Jr., 47, who was taken into custody without incident while exiting his Hammond residence.
Sheriff Downey praised the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, including the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the Hammond Police Department. He also thanked the community for providing tips that helped lead to the arrest.
Downey stated that violent crimes have no place in society and expressed appreciation for the public’s support during the investigation.