A Huntley man has been charged with the murders of two children and an adult that occurred last month at a home in Boone County, police announced.
Belvidere Police Chief Shane Woody announced the charges during a press conference held Wednesday afternoon.
Alize Q. Smith, 24, of Huntley, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and remains held at Boone County Jail with no bond.
The Belvidere Police Department said they initiated an investigation into a triple homicide in the 600 block of Union Avenue in Belvidere on December 19.
Andrew Hintt and his two sons, Benjamin and Sebastian Hintt, ages 7 and 5 respectively, were located dead inside the residence, police said.
The Boone County Coroner’s Office ruled the three deaths a homicide.
During the investigation, detectives learned that Smith was with Hintt and the two boys the morning they were found dead.
Woody, who called the incident “a horrific act,” said that the investigation remains ongoing despite Smith being in custody.
Andrew Hintt’s silver 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, with Illinois license plate CT92923, remains missing, Woody said. He asked that anyone who spots it calls 911.
Boone County State’s Attorney Trisha Smith said during the Wednesday press conference that Alize Smith is facing life in prison if convicted.
“We know we can never remove the pain and grief of the Hintt family, however, we have to ensure we provide justice for them,” Belvidere Mayor Clint Morris said.
The U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force took Alize Smith into custody on December 21 in the 11000 block of Timer Drive in Huntley on an Illinois Department of Corrections parole violation warrant.
Records show that Smith was paroled in June from the Illinois Department of Corrections after serving time in prison for armed robberies in McHenry County.
Police detectives interviewed Alize at the Belvidere Police Department.
He was transported to the Boone County Adult Detention Center on the warrant and remains held in the jail.
The Huntley Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service and Belvidere Police Department later executed a search warrant at a residence where Smith was arrested in Huntley.
Detectives seized several pieces of evidence from the home.
Woody did not release any further details Wednesday surrounding the murders, citing the integrity of the ongoing investigation.