DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean announced today, Tuesday, December 9, 2025, that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to detain pre-trial an Elmhurst male suspect accused of stabbing to death twenty-one-year-old Claudia Mojarrieta-Matos early last Saturday morning. Santino Ortiz, age 22, of the block of 600 West Belden Avenue, appeared in First Appearance Court this afternoon charged with six counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Armed Robbery (Class X Felony) and one count of Concealment of Homicidal Death (Class 3 Felony).
Elmhurst police officers responded about 4:35 a.m. Saturday, December 6, 2025 to a 911 call reporting a missing person, later identified as Claudia Mojarrieta-Matos. After speaking with the male complainant, police were informed that he dropped off Claudia Mojarrieta-Matos at approximately 1:00 a.m., in the block of 600 West Lorraine Avenue in Elmhurst to meet with another person. The person was later identified as Santino Ortiz. West Lorraine Avenue and West Belden Avenue are located parallel one block apart in Elmhurst, and Ortiz’s address is directly north of the Lorraine Avenue address where Mojarrieta-Matos was dropped off.
Approximately fifteen minutes later (about 1:15 a.m.), the male complainant that would call 911 at 4:35 a.m., received a phone call from Mojarrieta-Matos during which he heard a struggle and the victim crying followed by an abrupt termination of the phone call. When he returned to the area and was unable to locate Mojarrieta-Matos, he called 911 over three hours later and filed the missing person report. Through the course of their investigation, the Elmhurst Police Department identified Ortiz as a suspect in Mojarrieta-Matos’ disappearance. Officers with the Elmhurst Police Department contacted Ortiz and he agreed to meet with them at the Elmhurst Police Department at approximately 4:30 p.m. that afternoon, where police officers interviewed him. Following the interview Santino Ortiz was taken into custody. Ortiz allegedly solicited Mojarrieta-Matos for prostitution, and arranged to meet her in the block of 600 West Lorraine Avenue. After Mojarrieta-Matos arrived at the West Lorraine Avenue address, Ortiz allegedly led her into his garage. While in Ortiz’s garage, he allegedly grabbed Mojarrieta-Matos, forced her to the ground, face down, and repeatedly slammed her head on the garage floor. Ortiz then allegedly got a knife out of his pocket and repeatedly stabbed Mojarrieta-Matos from behind. Ortiz then wrapped her head in a garbage bag and put her body in a garbage can. At approximately 8:00 a.m., Ortiz allegedly placed Mojarrieta-Matos’ body in his pickup truck, left his house, and ultimately discarded Mojarrieta-Matos’ body in a rural area in Wadsworth, Illinois, approximately forty feet off the roadway, amongst some brush and trees.
On Sunday, December 7, 2025, at approximately 5:57 p.m., the Lake County Coroner’s Office was notified by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office of a body that was located in a wooded area the area of Adams Road and Delany Road, in Wadsworth. The Coroner’s Office was advised that this death investigation was in conjunction with a missing person investigation being conducted by the Elmhurst Police Department.
The Coroner’s Office responded to the scene.
The deceased was identified as 21-year-old Claudia Mojarrieta-Matos, of Greenacres, Florida, located southwest of West Palm Beach. On Monday, December 8, 2025, an autopsy was conducted at the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Preliminary results indicated that Ms. Mojarrieta-Matos died from multiple injuries due to assault. The autopsy conducted by the Lake County Coroner’s Office found Mojarrieta-Matos had been stabbed approximately seven times in her face and head, according to the Elmhurst Police Department.
“I offer my sincere condolences to Claudia’s family and friends as they attempt to process this horrific loss. With a complete disregard for human life, Claudia’s young life was taken in a senseless, brutal act of violence, allegedly committed by Mr. Oritz. The type of violence alleged in this case will not be tolerated in DuPage County and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I commend the Elmhurst Police Department for their outstanding efforts in this case. Their commitment to justice led to the apprehension of the defendant approximately twelve hours after the original 911 call and the subsequent filing of first degree murder charges shortly thereafter. I also thank DuPage MERIT, the Lake County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Offices as well Assistant State’s Attorneys Lee Roupas and Daniel Orescanin for their tireless efforts throughout the weekend which resulted in strong charges against Mr. Ortiz.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin
“On behalf of the Elmhurst Police Department, I extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends grieving her loss. We remain committed to supporting them as this case moves forward. I want to recognize our officers, evidence technicians, and detectives for their dedication throughout this investigation in the pursuit of justice for Claudia. Their efforts, supported by the members of the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, led to the swift apprehension of the defendant and the location of the victim in this tragic case.”
— Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean
Ortiz’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 5, 2026, in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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