The man accused of killing 20-year-old Charisma Ehresman more than three years ago pleaded guilty Monday just as his murder trial was about to begin.
Richard Chavez changed his plea Monday and was sentenced to 27 years in prison for the death of the Forest View nursing student in January 2022.
Her father, Jeffery Ehresman, posted this message on Facebook after they learned of his guilty plea: “Today, Richard Chavez changed his plea to guilty for the murder of our angel Charisma Marie Ehresman We were not given a choice or any say so in his plea deal. Richard will be serving 27 years for the brutal murder of Charisma Ehresman. Its not justice, it certainly is not enough time! But it is a conviction. He will serve the full sentence and will not have the option to appeal. We would like to take the time to thank every single person who has shown their love and support over the past 3 years 11 months. Our family is broken and missing an enormous part but we will learn to move with this weight on us for the rest of our lives. Thank you everyone!”
Chavez, 27, of the 600 block of South Maple Street in Oak Park, was arrested on February 18, 2022 at Cook County Jail where he was already in custody for a DUI charge from North Riverside. He had been arrested on January 25, the same day Charisma’s family reported her missing.
He was charged with one felony count of first-degree murder. He was ordered held without bond.
Prosecutors said Chavez and Charisma met on social media and she agreed to visit his home on January 23. A private surveillance camera showed the two of them going into his home about 10:40 p.m. January 23. She was never seen leaving the home.
Prosecutors said the next day Chavez drove Charisma’s car to the 5900 block of West Iowa Street and was alone when he got out. A computer log indicated he moved the car into his garage before driving to Iowa Street. He allegedly walked around the area for about an hour before calling for his brother to come pick him up.
Charisma’s body was discovered in the back seat of her car three days later. A jacket was covering her face when she was found.
Prosecutors said cell phone records indicated her last call was to a number registered to Chavez and her phone’s location records showed it “pinged” at his address on Jan. 23.
Chavez told detectives the two “hooked up” Sunday night and when he woke up the next morning, Charisma was already gone, prosecutors said.
While in police custody, Chavez made a phone call to his parents that was recorded in which he asked them to get his passport ready, prosecutors said.
Investigators searched Chavez’s house on Jan. 31 and found a suitcase that was partially packed in his bedroom and a mask he was seen wearing in surveillance footage after abandoning Charisma’s car, prosecutors said.
He allegedly had lacerations on his hands when arrested.
Charisma’s death was ruled a homicide by strangulation.
Charisma was a graduate of Morton West High School and was working on a nursing degree at Triton College when she was killed.
The trial had been expected to last two to three days.
Carol McGowan contributed to this report.
What an absolute joke that this monster will ever get the chance to walk the streets again in his life. The justice system is broken when you can admit to murdering someone, and not spend the rest of your life in jail. My thoughts are with Jeff and Christina, as well as the family. They don’t deserve to have to go through this.
The justice system is broken, Richard Chavez tore this family to shreds and gets to walk out alive, god bless charisma and her beautiful family. Which will never be the same again. Justice was not served, he will get his.