A killing spree in Northern Illinois.
On March 27, 2024 Christian Soto murdered four people and injured seven others.
He went to visit a friend he had known for years, and according to the killer, they smoked some marijuana which was laced with another drug.
Soto’s paranoia grew to such an extent that he grabbed a knife from the kitchen and killed Jacob Schupbach, 23 and his mother Ramona Schupbach, 63
Witnesses say he chased Jacob Schupbach outside the home stabbing him and ran him over with his truck. After the attack, Schupbach made it back inside the home before dying.
Christian Soto then left the residence at Holmes St. and found Jay Larson, 49 who was a mail carrier, on Winnetka Drive. Witnesses say he ran over Larson, beat him, then retrieved a knife from his truck.
The killer went to the 4800 block of Cleveland Avenue. Where he busted into a home and stabbed 3 more people, none of whom died. They beat him with a bottle and their pit bull attacked Soto.
The spree continued down the street, where Soto invaded a home and found three young girls. He attacked them with a baseball bat, leaving Jenna Newcomb, 15 dead.
Soto continued through the neighborhood, breaking a window and attacking Lindsay Craig in her home on Florence Street. She managed to escape, and fled to Eggleston Road, being chased by Soto who wielded a knife.
Keith Fahrney stopped his vehicle and tried to help Craig, but was attacked as well.
Police finally caught and arrested Soto in the same neighborhood in the midst of his spree.
A witness said “We heard police run up on both sides of the house screaming, ‘Stop! Get down!’” A witness told the TV station. “Then they ran into the backyard and after a few minutes we saw them bringing the suspect down the driveway in handcuffs and he was very bloody.”
The attacks drew national attention even leading to a statement from President Biden.
“We are praying for the families of those who lost loved ones, and hoping that all those injured make a full recovery. We are also grateful for the heroic actions of local law enforcement, who confronted the suspect and prevented the loss of more innocent life…,”
***
I traveled to Rockford and did some research on this tragic crime.
Police state that the killer, Christian Soto, only had one major crime in his past. A damage to property charge from 2020.
Yet, he exploded on this day into a spree of murder that shocked the nation.
He admitted to the attacks and helped investigators by explaining what happened to cause them, and what happened during the attack.
Did he go insane?
He says that the marijuana he smoked with victim Jacob Schupbach was laced with some other drug.
But, why did it only cause Soto to lash out?
Soto and Schupbach were friends. They both smoked. Why did Schupbach not kill Soto?
I lean toward the spiritual and ask about demons. Yeah, seriously.
All humans are tempted by demonic beings. But not all of us kill, or break laws.
From conception we enter a fallen world where we become damaged. Sometimes that damage to our DNA can open us up for demonic influences. Sometimes trauma happens to us through our life, which allows more access to us, without our control.
We might have mental issues that can open us up to the spiritual. Our behaviors can do the same. Consider a young serial killer murdering animals in secret. Letting the demons whisper into his mind as he tortures cats, or molests a neighbor girl.
These acts open doors into the soul, mind or spirit which leads to more demonic influence. Not possession. Possession is not needed, when you think the sick thoughts in your mind are your own. When you break and give in to the desires given to you.
Drugs and alcohol can also open doors and break down our ability to resist the temptations. If a person is used to allowing demons open reign in their life, drugs and alcohol can open the doors even further.
When you research true crime, you will come across many situations that make no sense. Terrible thoughts, paranoia, urges, voices, things outside of ourselves that helped cause or drive the tragedy.
We can give all kinds of physical or mental reasons. Which are often true. But, until you plug in the demonic. Things still do not make sense.
The neighborhood where the crime occurred is a typical middle class safe area. Giving more evidence that these sorts of crimes can happen any where.
The spree started on Holmes Street where the Schupbach’s lived.
I pray for those impacted by this terrible tragedy, and for the neighborhood where it happened.
I pray they find peace and can recover from this trauma.
Sources and Further Reading:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rockford-illinois-violence-stabbing-dead-rcna145388
https://apnews.com/article/rockford-stabbing-mutiple-fatal-wounded-bf21d88c00d0d24e55c7499359d1181b
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=819884513508310&set=a.228193169344117
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/27/us/rockford-illinois-stabbing-home-invasion/index.html
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/timeline-of-deadly-rockford-neighborhood-murder-spree/
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/rockford-illinois-stabbing-case-what-we-know-so-far/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Rockford_stabbings
Photos by the author/police mug shot/ FOX32 Chicago, WFLD
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger.
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I really believe that its the societies impact that might lead to such brutal events in Illinois
Yes, I’m sure there is a social cause. Humans being evil to each other, causes trauma.
The cycle if pretty harsh. He does something bad to you then you do something bad to him and then someone else does bad to you and we are just back we’re we started
Course then there’s demons…