A suspect wanted in connection with numerous armed robberies at Illinois Tollway Oases, including the Lake Forest Oasis, has been identified and charged, the state police said.
Illinois State Police District 15 Investigators arrested Jenell C. Fenderson, 28, of Chicago, and obtained charges against him.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved two counts of aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony, and a Cook County Grand Jury approved one count of armed robbery, a Class X felony.
ISP District 15 Investigations Agents and ISP Crime Scene Services Agents launched a “thorough and extensive” investigation in May into multiple armed robberies taking place at various Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) Oases.
The first occurred on around 7:40 a.m. May 10 at the O’Hare Oasis on I-294 near Schiller Park, the second occurred around 11:12 p.m. May 21 at the Lake Forest Oasis on I-94 near Lake Forest, and the third occurred around 2:30 a.m. September 22 again at the Lake Forest Oasis.
“Through this investigation, ISP District 15 Investigations Agents noted numerous similarities between all three incidents,” state police said in a statement.
ISP Crime Scene Services Agents were able to obtain multiple fingerprints for comparison at all three scenes and forensic scientists subsequently identified Fenderson as the suspect.
Fenderson was taken into custody by the Oak Park Police Department on September 23.
He remains held in the Lake County jail on a $500,000 bond. Fenderson must post $50,000 cash in order to be released on bail.