In a horrifying escalation from a routine online transaction, 19-year-old Nedas Revuckas allegedly stabbed 30-year-old pregnant Eliza Morales more than 70 times in her Downers Grove, Illinois, apartment, attacked her pet dog, and set the home on fire, leading to the deaths of Morales and her unborn daughter. The incident, stemming from Revuckas’s dissatisfaction with a 1994 Ford Ranger truck purchased via Facebook Marketplace from Morales’s husband, unfolded on January 26, 2026, around 5:38 p.m. CST. Prosecutors have charged Revuckas with multiple felonies, including first-degree murder, intentional homicide of an unborn child, armed robbery, aggravated arson, and aggravated cruelty to animals, painting a picture of unchecked rage that shattered a family’s life.
Court documents detail how Revuckas responded to the Marketplace listing over the weekend, agreeing to meet at the Morales home in the 2300 block of Ogden Avenue to exchange license plates and finalize paperwork. Surveillance footage captured Morales handing Revuckas a screwdriver before they entered the apartment, where an altercation quickly turned violent, with signs of a struggle visible on video. The door handle was seen turning as if someone inside was desperately trying to escape, and about 10 minutes later, smoke began billowing from the residence, alerting neighbors and emergency services. By 6:09 p.m., firefighters arrived to find Morales unresponsive near the front door, her body bearing approximately 70 stab wounds concentrated on her head and neck, as confirmed by an autopsy.
Morales’s elderly pit bull mix, Zula, also suffered in the attack, stabbed between the eyes but managing to flee through a sliding glass door amid the flames. The dog survived and received veterinary care, becoming a poignant survivor in the tragedy. Revuckas allegedly ignited the fire using household items, chemicals, and accelerants at two points, the kitchen stove and front door, before fleeing with Morales’s cell phone, which he later broke and discarded. Police tracked him to his Westmont home, where the truck sat in the driveway, and arrested him without incident around 11:42 p.m. on January 27.
During questioning, Revuckas confessed to the stabbing, initially claiming 10 wounds but with evidence revealing far more, and admitted his frustration over the truck’s condition fueled the assault. He reportedly learned of Morales’s pregnancy during the fight, yet continued the attack. Bloody clothing found at his residence and his guidance to detectives on where he disposed of other evidence strengthened the case against him. A court proffer highlighted the brutality, noting Revuckas’s decision to “take out his frustration on Eliza” after the purchase dispute.
Gabriel Morales, Eliza’s husband and father to their two-year-old daughter, was at work when he received the devastating news of his wife’s and unborn child’s deaths. He has publicly shared his grief, vowing to “spend the rest of my life missing her” and to “live through her for my daughter” while remaining strong for his family. Community support has rallied around them through a GoFundMe campaign, underscoring the profound loss of a devoted mother who worked at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Following his arrest, Revuckas appeared in court on January 29, where Judge Joshua Dieden denied pretrial release, citing the heinous nature of the crimes. Hours later, he sustained self-inflicted injuries in custody, requiring hospitalization in critical condition before being cleared and returned to DuPage County Jail on February 1. As of today, February 18, 2026, Revuckas is scheduled for arraignment before Judge Brian Telander at the DuPage County Courthouse, with potential for additional charges pending forensic results. No immediate outcomes from the hearing were available, but the case continues to draw attention for its severity.
This tragedy exposes the perilous underbelly of peer-to-peer marketplaces, where lack of oversight can transform minor disagreements into deadly confrontations. While Facebook Marketplace facilitates convenient sales, incidents like this prompt calls for improved safety measures, such as verified identities or in-app dispute resolution. Families like the Moraleses serve as a stark reminder of the human cost, urging users to prioritize in-person meetings in public spaces or with companions.Official police updates and court records provide essential transparency, helping prevent future vulnerabilities in everyday digital interactions.
