A judge sentenced a Grayslake man to life in prison on Thursday after he was convicted of stabbing a victim over 40 times in a “heinous, unprovoked” attack where he tried staging the crime scene in Round Lake Beach. Jesus I. Vargas, 33, of Grayslake, was convicted of first-degree murder following a trial that concluded […]
Sam Borcia
Sam Borcia is the CEO and Publisher of Lake and McHenry County Scanner based in Gurnee, Illinois. His focus is reporting on local news covering crime, government, traffic and more around Lake County, Illinois and McHenry County, Illinois. Sam founded Lake and McHenry County Scanner in January 2012 and has extensive experience covering news. His reporting has garnered coverage by major national and international outlets. He graduated from DePaul University in Chicago. You can get in touch with Sam by emailing [email protected].
Posted inLocal News
Driver uninjured after semi-truck rolls over, spilling gravel and diesel fuel in roundabout near Marengo
A driver was able to free himself from a semi-truck that rolled over and spilled gravel, causing a roundabout to be partially shut down near Marengo Friday morning. The Marengo Fire/Rescue Districts, Union Fire Protection District, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Marengo Police Department responded around 6:56 a.m. Friday to the area of Route 20, […]
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14 years in prison for drug dealer convicted of homicide for selling drugs that caused 2 McHenry County residents to die
A drug dealer has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the homicide of two McHenry County residents whom he sold drugs to and prosecutors say he also caused two other people’s deaths. Jarrail Ford-Gresham, 36, of Elgin, was charged in McHenry County in May 2024 with two counts of drug-induced homicide, a Class […]
Posted inLocal News
Motorcyclist flees from sheriff’s deputy before crashing into SUV in Harvard, running on foot and hiding in bushes
A Cary man ran away on foot and was found hiding under bushes after he fled from a sheriff’s deputy and crashed his motorcycle into an SUV in Harvard, police said. A McHenry County sheriff’s deputy was on patrol around 12:20 p.m. on June 29 along northbound Route 14 south of Harvard. The deputy reported […]
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Investigators arrest Wadsworth man for allegedly downloading nearly 200K files of child sexual abuse material
Investigators have arrested a 74-year-old man after raiding his home in Wadsworth and discovering he allegedly downloaded nearly 200,000 files of child sexual abuse material, including some involving toddlers. Steven C. Kazmer, 74, of Wadsworth, was charged with eight counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material, a Class X felony. The Lake County State’s […]
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Prosecutors say mother, her boyfriend found daughter’s boyfriend armed with gun before he opened fire on them in Mundelein home
A mother, along with her boyfriend, came home to find her daughter’s boyfriend brandishing a gun in their Mundelein apartment and prosecutors say he soon after opened fire on them, killing the man and seriously injuring the woman. Deandre Y. Harris, 21, of South Holland, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, a Class […]
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Bookkeeper for Cary Country Club arrested for allegedly stealing over $70,000 in funds from organization
A bookkeeper for the Cary Country Club in Cary has been arrested and charged with stealing over $70,000 in funds from the organization by funneling them into her accounts. Sara L. Gockley, 49, of Cary, was charged with one count of theft by unauthorized control over $10,000, a Class 2 felony. A criminal complaint filed […]
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No foul play suspected after store employee dies from gunshot wound outside Walmart in Lake Zurich
No foul play is suspected after a store employee was found dead suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the entrance to Walmart in Lake Zurich Friday evening. The Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department and Lake Zurich Police Department responded around 8:27 p.m. Friday to the Walmart, 820 South Rand Road in Lake Zurich, for […]
Posted inLocal News
Funeral services being held for Grayslake grandmother who died after being critically injured in crash in Kildeer
A Grayslake grandmother is being laid to rest Thursday after she died months after suffering critical injuries in a head-on crash that seriously injured two others on the border of Kildeer and Lake Zurich. The Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department and Kildeer Police Department responded around 6:15 p.m. on February 20 to the area of […]