Location: 3500 block of West Flournoy Street, East Garfield Park, Chicago, Illinois
Date: Found early Saturday, October 17, 2026
Accused: Connor G. Williams, 34, her boyfriend
Charges: First-degree murder; murder in the commission of another forcible felony
Status: Ordered detained pending trial
Keri Chappell was found dead inside her apartment in the East Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, early Saturday, October 17, 2026, about 12 hours after she walked into a police station to report that her boyfriend had attacked her. That boyfriend, 34-year-old Connor G. Williams, has been charged with murder in her death.
The case has drawn attention because of how closely the two events followed each other. According to a police report and statements from Cook County prosecutors described by local outlets, Chappell went to the Harrison (11th) District station around noon on Friday, October 16, said she had been assaulted at home and told officers she wanted to press charges. By just after midnight, first responders had been called to the same apartment on West Flournoy Street, where she was pronounced dead.
Who Was Keri Chappell?
Keri Chappell lived in the 3500 block of West Flournoy Street on Chicago's West Side. CBS Chicago and CWBChicago reported her age as 59, while the Chicago Sun-Times reported it as 62. CWBChicago reported that she and Williams had lived together at the address for about six weeks.
She was also a mother. According to prosecutors, as reported by CWBChicago, her daughter had been trying to reach her on the evening before her death but could not, because Chappell's phone had been broken earlier that day. No family statement had been published in the reports MotiveX reviewed.
What Happened in East Garfield Park?
The timeline below comes from a Chicago Police Department report cited by CBS Chicago and the Sun-Times, and from prosecutors' account in court as reported by CWBChicago. These are allegations that have not been tested at trial.
Around midday Friday, Chappell reported to officers at the Harrison District station that Williams had physically assaulted her and damaged her phone. CWBChicago reported that she told police she wanted to press charges, and that this time she would follow through.
Prosecutors said officers then escorted Chappell home and checked the apartment. She was offered a move to a safe location and chose to stay. According to CWBChicago, officers advised her to barricade her door and said they would look for Williams in the area.
Prosecutors said that around the same time Williams called a former co-worker for a ride, saying he had fought with his girlfriend. The co-worker told investigators Williams had been drinking and making threats, and dropped him near the back of the home around 7:30 p.m. Prosecutors also said Williams later phoned Chappell's daughter, who recorded the calls, and that he repeatedly threatened to kill her mother during them.
The Sun-Times reported that Chappell was found unresponsive at 12:06 a.m. Saturday. According to prosecutors, it was Williams who called 911 to say he had found her unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy on Sunday found she died of multiple injuries from an assault, and the Cook County medical examiner's office ruled her death a homicide.
Has Anyone Been Arrested?
Yes. The Sun-Times reported that Williams was arrested at 3:12 a.m. Saturday at the Flournoy Street address. CBS Chicago reported that he admitted to police that he had recently argued with Chappell.
Williams is charged with first-degree murder and murder in the commission of another forcible felony, according to CWBChicago. At a detention hearing, Cook County Judge D'Anthony Thedford ordered him held in custody while the case moves forward. Williams is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
What Prosecutors Said About His Past
The Sun-Times reported that court records show Williams has two prior domestic battery convictions in two other counties. CWBChicago reported that prosecutors listed a 2015 aggravated domestic battery case, a 2017 felony domestic battery case and a 2021 attempted escape case.
Prosecutors also said Williams was arrested in February on a domestic battery charge involving Chappell. According to CWBChicago, that case was dropped when she did not appear in court. On Friday, according to CWBChicago, she told officers that unlike the previous time she would follow through with charges.
What Police Have Said
No direct statement from a Chicago police spokesperson was quoted in the reports. The police report cited by the Sun-Times described the allegations Chappell made at the station on Friday. Area 4 detectives are handling the investigation, according to the Sun-Times.
The reports do not say whether police located Williams between Chappell's Friday report and the early morning call, or whether a warrant had been sought on her complaint before she was killed. Those are questions the public record has not yet answered.
What Happens Next
Williams remains in custody under the judge's detention order. His next court date had not been published in the reports MotiveX reviewed. As the case continues, prosecutors are expected to present their evidence, including the recorded phone calls described in court, and Williams will have the chance to answer the charges through his defense.
For anyone in danger at home, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233.
Timeline of the Keri Chappell Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2026 | Williams is arrested on a domestic battery charge involving Chappell; prosecutors say the case was later dropped when she did not appear in court. |
| Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, about noon | Chappell reports domestic battery at the Harrison (11th) District station; officers escort her home. |
| Friday, Oct. 16, about 7:30 p.m. | Prosecutors say a former co-worker dropped Williams near the back of the home. |
| Saturday, Oct. 17, 12:06 a.m. | Chappell is found unresponsive in the apartment and pronounced dead. |
| Saturday, Oct. 17, 3:12 a.m. | Williams is arrested at the Flournoy Street address. |
| Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026 | Autopsy finds she died of multiple injuries from an assault; death ruled a homicide. |
| Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 | Williams is charged with murder; a detention hearing is scheduled at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. |
| October 2026 | Judge D'Anthony Thedford orders Williams detained pending trial. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is charged in Keri Chappell's death?
Connor G. Williams, 34, her boyfriend, is charged with first-degree murder and murder in the commission of another forcible felony. He has not been convicted and is presumed innocent.
Did Keri Chappell report abuse before she died?
Yes. According to a police report and prosecutors, she went to the Harrison District station around noon on Friday, October 16, reported that Williams had assaulted her, and said she wanted to press charges.
Where did the case happen?
In an apartment in the 3500 block of West Flournoy Street in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on Chicago's West Side.
Is Connor Williams in jail?
Yes. Judge D'Anthony Thedford ordered him detained pending trial, according to CWBChicago.
MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.
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