
Investigators have charged two suspects in the carjacking of a pregnant mother who was run over and had her child abducted near Libertyville in 2023.
The incident happened around 3:35 p.m. on February 23, 2023, in the 16000 block of West Buckley Road in unincorporated Libertyville.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said deputies received a call for a vehicular hijacking with a two-year-old child still inside the vehicle.
Taylor Shepherd, who was 34 at the time and approximately six months pregnant, had just returned to her residence, according to her neighbors and police.
She pulled into her driveway and brought one of her children inside, Covelli said.
Shepherd came back to her car to retrieve her other child, a two-year-old boy, when a white BMW pulled into her driveway behind her car.
A male exited the passenger side of the BMW and struggled to get into the woman’s 2021 Volkswagen Atlas as she tried to keep her two-year-old son safe.
The offender battered Shepherd and knocked her to the ground, Covelli said. He then stole her car with the child inside.
He and the driver of the BMW, described as a 2000s model with a black bumper and loud exhaust, fled from the scene.
One of the two drivers ran Shepherd over as they fled, causing serious injuries to her extremities, Covelli said.
The woman was still able to call 911 and sheriff’s deputies immediately responded.
Sheriff’s detectives also responded to the scene and the general area to assist in the search for the Volkswagen.
Covelli told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that one of the detectives immediately called Volkswagen Car-Net because he knew the stolen vehicle had a GPS locator.
The detective called the emergency number and explained the circumstances.
The employee looked up the VIN and confirmed the vehicle could be tracked but declined to do so because the trial period for the software in the car had ended.
Covelli said the detective pleaded with the employee and informed them it was a life-and-death situation.
The employee said he was required to follow policy and could not give the location until payment was secured.
Detectives had to get a credit card to pay Volkswagen. The entire process added a 30-minute delay, Covelli said.
“It took so long that we had very fortunately already located the abducted two-year-old and also found the stolen Volkswagen,” Covelli said.
The child was located safe in Waukegan and the stolen Volkswagen was located in a parking lot near Casimir Pulaski and Route 43 in Waukegan.
“Thankfully, this ended in the child being unharmed, but had the offenders had different intentions, we can’t say it’d be the same outcome, because of the delay,” Covelli said at the time.
The family later filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen over the ordeal.
Shepherd underwent multiple surgeries for her traumatic injuries and was hospitalized for weeks.
Shepherd gave birth on June 26, 2023, to her baby Noah Collin, who was healthy and thriving.
“All of the waiting and all of the unknowns, he has not only survived but he is thriving! I’m so beyond thankful. As I sit and hold my miracle in my arms, all I can see is God’s hand on my life. We have been saved, and today I’m lucky enough to celebrate 35 years of life,” she said in July 2023.
Covelli said in an update in January 2024 that detectives had made “significant progress” in the case and identified the key suspects.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday — nearly two years after the carjacking — that the suspects, who were both 17 years old at the time and are now 19 years old, have been charged.
“When this crime occurred, nearly every division of the sheriff’s office was involved in trying to locate the child and identify the offenders. Our detectives continued the investigation, working tirelessly, with the state’s attorney’s office, to hold the offenders accountable and provide the initial steps of justice for the victims,” Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said.
“Complex investigations like these require time and precision to ensure justice is served and I am very proud of everyone involved in this investigation,” Idleburg said.
The two men, one from Waukegan and the other from Lindenhurst, are currently in custody on unrelated charges.
Because both offenders were juveniles at the time of the crime, they are being referred to the juvenile court system. They are facing charges of aggravated vehicular hijacking and vehicular hijacking.
“The investigation spanned several months due to the complexity of the case and the thorough work required to build a strong evidentiary foundation. Detectives pursued dozens of leads, meticulously reviewing hours of video surveillance, physical evidence reports, and cellular tower data,” Covelli said.
Detectives also conducted multiple interviews with witnesses and persons of interest and obtained subpoenas and search warrants to access critical information. “Each step was crucial to ensure all findings were verified and could withstand judicial scrutiny,” Covelli said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is working to have the cases transferred to adult court. Their identities are being withheld until that process is complete.
“The thorough and determined work of our prosecutors, in collaboration with sheriff’s detectives, reflects our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable. This long-term investigation demonstrates the dedication of our office to pursuing justice for victims and ensuring that those responsible for such heinous acts are brought to justice. We will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our community,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.