LOGAN SQUARE — The boyfriend of a slain Logan Square woman is facing charges after detectives searched his apartment and found the woman’s body stuffed in a duffel bag, weapons, bags of cleaning supplies and other pieces of evidence tying him to the horrific crime, prosecutors said at a court hearing Thursday.
Genesis Silva, 34, is charged with one felony count of concealing the murder of 33-year-old Brittany Battaglia, his girlfriend of more than a year. Silva also faces a felony count for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and a misdemeanor for obstructing an officer.
Battaglia’s nearly decapitated body was found in Silva’s apartment in the 2000 block of North Kimball Avenue Monday evening, authorities said.
Silva was denied bail Thursday by Cook County Judge William Fahy. In denying Silva bail, Fahy said he’s a danger to the community and it’s likely he will face more serious charges, according to NBC5.
Last Friday, Battaglia told her roommate she was going to Silva’s apartment — about a block away — and then to a party, prosecutors said.
When Battaglia’s roommate learned Battaglia never made it to the party and couldn’t reach her, she grew concerned and notified Battaglia’s brother, prosecutors said. Battaglia had also stopped sharing her phone’s location with family the day before the party, prosecutors said.
Battaglia’s roommate and brother filed a missing person report with police, setting off a neighborhood-wide search.
When police showed up at Silva’s apartment Sunday, he got into his car and drove off. Officers pulled him over a few blocks away, and he walked back to his apartment with them, wearing a red and black backpack, prosecutors said.
Once inside, detectives found a duffel bag in Silva’s bedroom and ordered Silva to wait outside. Silva tried to sneak into his apartment through a back stairwell, but detectives apprehended him and found that he was carrying two cell phones, two small pocketknives and an ice pick, prosecutors said.
Later, after obtaining a search warrant, detectives found Battaglia’s body stuffed inside the duffel bag in Silva’s bedroom, prosecutors said.
They also found two garbage bags in the kitchen that contained shoes, a bucket, a paint suit, black gloves, bleach and a Swiffer mop, along with lists of cleaning supplies and chemicals on crumpled pieces of paper.
One note read, “Can you ask avg. time until smell etc.,” prosecutors said.
Detectives later found two machetes — one in Silva’s backpack and another in his car.
Prosecutors said trace amounts of blood were found on several of the items in the bags and on one of the machetes; they are awaiting forensics testing on the items.
Battaglia died from multiple stab wounds and her body was found with her head almost completely cut off, prosecutors said. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a homicide.
Silva pleaded guilty in 2009 to aggravated criminal sexual assault, prosecutors said in arguing for him to be denied bail.
In that case, Silva allegedly attacked his ex-wife, Diana Ochoa, after getting into an argument with her. Court records said Silva choked Ochoa, repeatedly said “Why don’t you just die?” and then raped her with a switchblade knife, according to the Tribune and prosecutors.
Silva was initially charged with Class X felonies, but those charges were dismissed and he was ultimately only sentenced to two years probation, the Sun-Times reported.
“He tried to kill me. And they treated it like it was nothing,” Ochoa told the Tribune.
Silva was added to the sex offenders registry at Ocha’s urging.
Battaglia’s murder has left her family and friends in a deep state of shock and mourning, her younger brother, AJ Battaglia, told the Tribune.
Battaglia was a free-spirited artist and music lover who worked various jobs, from face-painter to cosmetologist, and had a diverse friend group, according to reports.
“She was goofy, funny, always happy. She’s never not had a smile on her face. She was smart, energetic, always caring,” AJ Battaglia told the Tribune.
Silva is due in court June 20.
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